If you want to relive one of the best moments in 2023 pop culture history, Gwyneth Goes Skiing, a new musical from Awkwardprods (the dynamic company behind the unofficial Lady Di musical that took Edinburgh by storm last fringe) re-examines the incidents leading up to that fated court match up.
This show has everything: puppets, excessive crowd work, product placement, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s then-boyfriend and current husband Brad Falchuck. The jokes-per-minute count is so high throughout this show that you end up with comedic whiplash. The sight gags alone would have me rolling on the floor, but coupled with well-done performances and cameos from some of the internet’s favourite icons (you’re welcome, gays!) make for a thoroughly enjoyable 90 minutes.
Linus Karp’s Gwyneth is hilarious, and plays off Joseph Martin’s Dr. Sanderson extremely well. Karp made me wish real-life Gwyneth Paltrow would just pull a Hilaria Baldwin already and adopt a slight Swedish affectation out of the blue.
You may be asking, Anna Claire, how does the show manage to tell a full story, including the most important people in Paltrow and Sanderson’s epic tale of betrayal and winter sports? You, the audience! I don’t want to give too much away and steal the thunder from Gwyn and Dr. Sanderson, but if you like when RuPaul’s Drag Race puts on Ru-sicals, you’ll love this show.
At times overly referential, the show truly only faltered during long intervals with no punchlines. Which, to the delight of every audience member, was so infrequently that it hardly mattered. What a co-gwyn-cidence.
There are allegedly two endings to this show depending on who the jury (the audience) finds guilty, but I’ll be Gooped™ if Karp and Martin ever get to dust off the cuffs for Gwyn. Overall, Gwyneth Goes Skiing is a riotous hour and a half of internet-born comedy, with an extremely charismatic leading lady.
I can’t imagine this show won’t sell out, I was part of a sold-out audience on only the second day of its run, so get your tickets in advance if you’re wanting to go.
Gwyneth Goes Skiing is on at 15:30 in Forth at Pleasance Courtyard until the 26 August (excluding 5, 12, and 19)
Images by Johnny Ruff provided by the Pleasance Press Office