Creators: Linus Karp and Joseph Martin
Music: Leland
Deer Valley Resort, Park City, Utah, 2016 and the now infamous skiing accident between Hollywood princess Gwyneth Paltrow and retired optometrist Terry Sanderson. The reality of what transpired was a camp-fest of epic proportions, Terry suing for $300 000 for his claimed life-altering injuries and Gwynnie counter-suing for $1.
Awkward Productions “harbingers of queer chaos” Linus Karp (Gwyneth) and Joseph Martin (Terry) take the already preposterous proceedings and milk the madness for every laugh. What’s more astonishing is that whole sections of the frankly ridiculous dialogue are almost taken verbatim from the trial records.
There are tunes by Leland, Troye Sivan’s co-writer, best known in drag circles for providing the music for RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Rusicals and a feast of audience participation which I won’t spoil. Needless to say, from this creative team, it’s all totally joyous and utterly un-threatening. Stage managers are co-opted into representing the local wildlife, including the deer of Deer Valley. Daughter Apple is literally portrayed by an apple and Sanderson’s lawyer by a puppet. To add to the mayhem there’s an appearance from drag royalty Trixie Mattel and vocals from Darren Criss.
The “girls, gays and theys” are asked to be the jury – the pair’s fate in the audience’s hands.
You can’t help but love this pair and the joy just radiates in every aspect of the production. It is silly, stupid and supremely entertaining. Considering the queerphobic attack on the pair just before this run in Edinburgh – I hope they know that the pure joyousness they perpetuate will always win through.
Runs until 26 August | Image: Jonny Ruff
The Reviews Hub Score
Pure joy
