Rating: ★★★☆☆
The musical comedy follows the viral and scandalous Gwyneth Paltrow ski trial after her collision with Terry Sanderson on the Deer Valley Utah slopes in 2016. From audience participation, songs sung by Broadway star and Glee cast member Darren Criss, video cameos from drag queen Trixie Mattel, voting between two alternative endings, and even puppetry – Gwyneth Goes Skiing offers you a camp and chaotic 80 minutes of entertainment.
This November, The Courier was offered the exciting opportunity to review their final show in Newcastle at the Live Theatre.
Gwyneth Goes Skiing not only stars but was created by Linus Karp (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Joseph Martin (Terry Sanderson), with almost the entire supporting cast consisting of audience members reading lines from a screen, unbeknownst to them, in a truly unique feature. But whilst the unpredictability of who would be on stage next added comedic charm to the show, the lines often lacked punch, and at times I found myself more focused on whether I was supposed to be laughing than the actual show.
The show seemed torn between appealing to different audiences. Some jokes – referencing Gwyneth Paltrow’s brand Goop and poking fun at wellness trends – landed with the predominantly older audience, while others catered to a Gen-Z crowd, with a montage of recent pop culture highlights and references to a “Brad” summer (think Brat). This inconsistency left the production feeling unfocused and unsure of its demographic - and trying to please everyone at once meant that many often overlooked jokes, depending on your level of pop culture knowledge.
...ultimately lacking the humour and energy one might expect.
One of the most disappointing aspects was the musical element, with the songs being sparse, lip-synced, and ultimately lacking the humour and energy one might expect. The first act dragged considerably, and by the end, I, unfortunately, left the theatre thinking that the infamous 2023 court trial might not have been as humorous as the internet made it seem. While the play’s concept was undoubtedly unique, it didn’t fully justify being stretched into a full-length production.
Perhaps with a few more glasses of wine, I’d have found Gwyneth Goes Skiing more entertaining. Despite its clever premise and moments of wit, the production fell short of being the comedy hit it aspired to be, or at least for me.
Ultimately, Gwyneth Goes Skiing offers a fun night out, as proven by the groups I overheard raving about the show on their way out, but for a truly engaging satire, it misses the mark.
Gwyneth Goes Skiing continues its tour in Bristol, Belfast and Dublin until December 7th.
