Review: Gwyneth Goes Skiing at Hope Mill Theatre is ‘extremely fun, very silly and very good’

There is no denying that over the course of her career, Gwyneth Paltrow has become an iconic figure in pop culture.

First for her roles in beloved films like Iron Man and Sliding Doors, and now for her wellness business Goop. And the now infamous Utah skiing trip that ended in the trial of the century.

Gwyneth Goes Skiing at Hope Mill Theatre

Gwyneth Goes Skiing takes audiences back in time to 2016 to bear witness to the saga that put Deer Hill Resort on the map.

As well as writing, directing and producing the show, Linus Karp and Joseph Martin play the accused- wellness millionaire and beloved nepo baby Gwyneth Paltrow- and the accuser- disgruntled Utah optometrist Doctor Terry Sanderson.

Together the pair reenact that fateful weekend and the court case that followed seven years later.

Glee alumnus Darren Criss provides the singing voice for Doctor Terry and comedian  Catherine Cohen does the same for Gywneth.

Drag royalty Trixie Mattel

With a video cameo from drag royalty Trixie Mattel, and the vocal talents of songwriter Leland, Gwyneth Goes Skiing is a small production that relies on audience members to play supporting roles.

This is extremely fun to watch and makes the show feel even more like one your friends are putting on in their bedroom solely to make you laugh.

Audience participation being a key element of the show will add to Gwyneth Goes Skiing’s cult classic status.

As Gwyneth Paltrow, Linus Karp clearly has the time of his life. He manages to be so outlandish in his portrayal of the eccentric actress that it swings back around. His performance genuinely feels very grounded by the end.

Gwyneth Paltrow is just like that, it seems! Whether he is smiling beatifically at the audience or talking to current boyfriend and future husband, producer Brad Falchuck, Linus embodies the essence of Gwyneth Paltrow.

“Fun without punching down”

He manages to rightfully poke fun at the her without ever punching down or being cruel. It is a wonderfully playful portrayal of the Hollywood starlet that is perfectly in keeping with the tone of the show.

Linus has so many of the most iconic lines in the show and he delivers them perfectly every single time. He moves around the stage with the confidence that only the goddaughter of Steven Spielberg could possess.

Gwyneth has met her match in the retired optometrist, Doctor Terry Sanderson.

Played by Joseph Martin. Doctor Terry is the straight man used to offset Gwyneth’s many quirks, the recipient of all the bad luck she seems to have avoided thus far.

While this makes for an entertaining contrast, I can’t help but wish that the character of Doctor Terry was a little more fleshed out. Next to someone who eats jade eggs for breakfast, he needs to pack a stronger punch.

Joseph Martin plays the role of a disgruntled baby boomer very well and with lots of conviction.

His accent is strong and consistent throughout and they play Doctor Terry with a palpable air of ennuyeux that makes you laugh and then feel a little bit bad about it afterwards. They are also an impressive puppeteer, wrangling Mormon lawyer Kristin Van Orman with ease. She is expressive and unhinged in a very memorable way that adds to the pantomime-like feel of the show.

Songs by Leland

With original songs by Drag Race’s resident producer and songwriter Leland, the songs in Gwyneth Goes Skiing have a recognisable quality to them. They are all catchy and serve the story well, but I can’t help wishing there were at least three times as many throughout the show.

A patter song as each party takes the stand, a heartfelt act two ballad for Doctor Terry to bemoan the bad luck that plagues him, a catchy girlboss number as Gwyneth attends to all important Goop business could have fleshed out the show and made it feel even more like a camp fever dream.

With act one designated to the events at Deer Valley and act two to the court case, Gwyneth Goes Skiing has a simple but effective structure that tells the story well.

A simple but effective set

The show’s set is simple but effective. The combination of fabric backdrops and videos on the screens at each side of the stage makes it easy for the audience to fill in the blanks and imagine Deer Valley resort as clearly as if they were there.

With lighting designed by stage manager James Appleby, emotional moments like Gwyneth bravely telling the court she lost half a day of skiing really hit the audience hard.

Perhaps the best part of Gwyneth Goes Skiing for me was the props.

They were all delightfully homemade and used in an irreverent way. Assistant stage manager Ciara Pidgeon stole the show many times over as she manipulated various set pieces with a purposefully deadpan expression.

Everything from the skiing scenes to the upward blizzard runs smoothly thanks to her.

Packed full of niche references

Gwyneth Goes Skiing is packed full of somewhat niche references that really hit if you were on a very specific side of the internet in between 2016 and 2023.

These work really well if you catch them but I imagine if Jesy Nelson performing at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball in 2021 passed you by or if you did not have a Brat Summer this year, you may feel a little lost.

This show is perfect for people who find themselves wishing panto would focus more on very specific showbiz news. Gwyneth Goes Skiing is a testament to gay determination and camp sensibilities. It is extremely fun, and very silly while also being legitimately good.

If you are at all curious about Gwyneth Paltrow, Goop or the cultural significance of Jade eggs, I implore you to see this show and I wish you well.

Tickets for Gwyneth Goes Skiing is at Hope Mill Theatre

Gwyneth Goes Skiing is at Hope Mill Theatre until Saturday, September 21st.

Tickets are available here