Gwyneth Paltrow’s legal dispute with a skiing optometrist is taking an unexpected turn onto the musical stage.
Set to premiere in London this December, “Gwyneth Goes Skiing” is the brainchild of Awkward Productions, self-proclaimed “harbingers of queer chaos.” Linus Karp will step into the role of Paltrow, while Joseph Martin takes on the character of Terry Sanderson, the optometrist who had a collision with her on a Utah ski slope in 2016. Adding a unique flavor to the show is original music by singer-songwriter Leland, known for his work on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
This musical is inspired by the court battle between Paltrow and Sanderson earlier this year. Following their ski slope collision, Sanderson filed a lawsuit against the “Sliding Doors” star, alleging injuries including a concussion, four broken ribs, and a brain injury, seeking $3.1 million in compensation. Paltrow countered with a $1 claim and attorney fees, insisting that Sanderson was the one who collided with her.
The televised two-week trial became an online sensation, with clips of Paltrow’s testimony turning into memes. The jury ultimately ruled in Paltrow’s favor.
The logline for “Gwyneth Goes Skiing” humorously outlines the collision on the slopes of Deer Valley and the subsequent courtroom drama, set against the backdrop of Christmas in 2023.
Running for 10 days from December 13 at London’s Pleasance Theatre, the show takes an interactive twist, with audience members participating as the jury. This musical venture follows a trend of dramatizing celebrity trials, with last year’s legal spat between British soccer wives Colleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy also finding its way to the stage, TV, and documentaries.
Notably, Linus Karp, who stars as Paltrow in this production, is concurrently portraying Princess Diana in Awkward Production’s current staging of “Diana: The Untold & Untrue Story,” described as “The most unhinged piece of theatre in existence” by Broadway Baby.
