The most bouncy trial in Hollywood history slides onto the fringe scene through this new parody show currently playing at Ediburgh Fringe before embarking on a national tour. Guillermo Nazara chats with its lead actor and creator, to learn all the details about the creation of a show that, some way or another, its meant to smash it.
It seems this may be the first show where going downhill is a sign of success, don’t you think?
Haha, very good point! It’s been funny creating a show that is all about such a brief moment – a collision on a ski slope in 2016 – and all the impact (pun intended) it had.
How did you come up with the idea for this piece?
Joseph and I were watching the trial online as it was unfolding. I turned to him and said – “Don’t you think there’s a fringe show in this? Imagine a show called ‘Gwyneth Goes Skiing’”. And here we are!
Similar to your Diana show, this piece takes a few facts from reality, but then begins to create its own. How many true elements are included in this narrative?
I think people would be surprised at how much of the show is actually verbatim! I think it’s fun to tell a story that people think they know in an unexpected way – we have enough ground in reality for it to be recognisable, but add our own fictional chaos to it.
What’s been the process of creating a parody version of Gwyneth Paltrow? Apart from mimicking her mannerisms, have you used any other background to portray her?
I have studied her in detail! Watching the court footage over and over as well as many of her films and interviews. It is very much my own version of her, but having one of the actual lawyers from the trial say “you really captured her” was very special.
How about the show itself? What’s been its development like?
Though we have created shows together before, this is the first show that my partner Joseph Martin and I have co-written and fully co-star in, which has been pretty special. We met Leland at Edinburgh Fringe last year when he came to see Diana, he really liked the show and said that he’d be very up for writing a song for him should we ever need one. Getting him onboard as a songwriter was so wild – the tunes he’s penned are unbelievably good and catchy, and thanks to him we also got Trixie Mattel, Cat Cohen and Darren Criss involved in the show!
Is the show trying to make any points apart from giving us a good laugh?
It may not be quite as political as Diana, but it does make a few points and is also very loudly queer, which in itself is a statement.
Why do you think this parody, in particular, has garnered such positive reception?
I think people like to have fun. It’s so rare that we get a news story that isn’t tragic, but one we can just enjoy, and I think the Gwyneth Paltrow Ski trial was just that. The pop culture reference and audience participation we have I think make the show stand out. Ultimately we just have so much fun performing it and I’m very happy that’s something that translates to an audience.
Would you like Gwyneth to come see her stage doppleganger?
Yes! I love Gwyneth, and I think our show in big part is a celebration of her. Her lawyers and people who know her have seen it, so hopefully we’re getting closer. If she ever does come we’d welcome her with open arms and freshly steamed vaginas.
Why come see Gwyneth Paltrow Goes Skiing?
If you like pop culture and spend to much time online, this is the show for you – it will have you gooped.
Gwyneth Paltrow Goes Skiing will play at the Edinburgh Fringe until 26 August before resuming its UK tour. Tickets are available on the following link.
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