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Signature nonsense from the hilarious Awkward Productions, although it is possibly slightly less crazy than the actual event it describes!Summary
Rating
Excellent
On the snowy slopes of Deer Valley a shocking collision leads to the court case of the year. Sexy Gwyneth Paltrow (Linus Karp) is sued by sad old man Terry Sanderson (Joseph Martin) for the sum of $300,000, while she, like the angel she is, countersues for the token sum of one dollar, in the interests of truth. So much drama! So much absurdity! Gwyneth Goes Skiing is based on a true event, encapsulated in Awkward Productions’ signature eccentric style and one of the silliest things you’ll encounter at the theatre this year.
Anyone who has seen an Awkward Productions show before will have an inkling of what to expect. The audience is very much part of the experience, and tonight the auditorium accommodates them in cabaret style, with a gift of custom-printed M&Ms featuring the actors’ faces on each table. Tasty thespians! The spectators are also the jury and will, at the end of a rigorous (or indeed ridiculous) trial, decide who wins the case.
Karp’s Gwyneth is a delightfully ethereal celebrity, swathed in self-importance, while Martin’s Terry is a curmudgeonly and self-centred optometrist. Both are reprehensible in their own ways. Some unfortunate souls from the audience are called onstage to play Gwyneth’s former-boyfriend-now-husband Brad, and Terry’s girlfriend-now-ex-girlfriend Karlene. Yes this is stupid, but hilariously funny as the cast are instructed live via screens as to what to say and do. It’s also genius, because the random selection creates instability and jeopardy, adding a thrilling tension to the performance that succinctly parallels the original court case itself. There’s no safe space for anyone tonight, as people are turfed out of their seats, dragged down from the balcony, and the whole auditorium is complicit in a snowball attack on Terry.
Apparently there’s more of a budget than for previous shows, so an impressive revolving stage adds dynamism and comedy, used to perfection in a crazy ski run down the slopes. The excellent soundtrack includes a new song from Leland, and offers opportunity for delightfully choreographed (Sam Carlyle) dancing from Karp and Martin, who have clearly been practising. Even the digital clip of Gwyneth’s supportive mother is upgraded with a brief but delicious cameo by none other than drag royalty Trixie Mattel herself!
However, Trixie and the boys are very nearly upstaged by the utterly wonderful portrayal of Terry’s lawyer Kristin Van Orman. She’s a highly talented puppet and Gwyneth fan, superbly performed by Martin, who really commits to the characterisation. An avalanche of her fangirl comments taken verbatim from the trial are so absurd they make the fantasy of a puppet lawyer the least unbelievable thing on the stage. Some cuddly woodland glove puppet friends, a Red Delicious and a cardboard deer help pad out the supporting cast, and the sense of unreality is complete and stupid.
There are moments where the action lags a little, particularly when the verbatim reportage packs in facts, but it’s probable this will vanish as the show tightens up during the run. No-one in the audience seemed to care: it was a room full of warm love and acceptance for the actors (and smart-assed ridicule of the protagonists).
Come the online voting, I was delighted to have the honour of delivering the final verdict. No spoilers here though because apparently there are two endings rehearsed so it really is up to the audience how the show ends. Go twice to check!
For all its stupidity – actually, because of it! – Gwyneth Goes Skiing is an excellent, fun night out. I look forward to the book adaptation, no doubt entitled Ms Gwyneth’s Feeling for Goop.
Written, Directed and Lyrics by: Linus Karp & Joseph Martin
Original Music and Lyrics by: Leland
Original Songs produced by: Gape Lopez
Produced by: Nick Connaughton
Lighting Design by: James Appleby
Sound Design by: Roly Botha
Choreography by: Sam Carlyle
Puppetry Consultant: Mikey Brett
Gwyneth Goes Skiing plays at Pleasance Theatre until 16 February. Further information and bookings can be found here.
