Fringe review: I WISH YOU WELL - THE GWYNETH PALTROW SKI-TRIAL MUSICAL, Underbelly

Photo credit: Mark Senior

Last year, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hollywood star and businesswoman, won her case against retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, who was suing the actor for $300,000 over a ski collision in the Utah mountains in 2016. As Paltrow left, she turned and whispered “I wish you well” to Sanderson.

If you are not familiar with this case, then do not worry. It is all explained in I Wish You Well – The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical, the brand-new one-hour musical comedy retelling the infamous court case. Interestingly, it is one of two productions at the Edinburgh Fringe this year addressing the case.

The show has a fabulous production team behind it, with a book and lyrics by Roger Dipper and Rick Pearson, and direction by Shiv Rabheru. Joining them are choreographer Dame Arlene Phillips, musical director Debbi Clarke, and producer Paul Taylor Mills.

I Wish You Well provides a fun, camp, energetic hour, using satire to the max. Diana Vickers (X Factor, Dial M for Murder) stars as Gwyneth and gives a phenomenal vocal performance. Alongside Vickers is Idress Kargbo (Wicked, Shrek) as Judge Jude who has a great watchability about him. Marc Antolin (The Outlaws, Little Shop of Horrors) is hilarious as Terry Sightworsens, and Tori Allen-Martin (Unforgotten, Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York) as his attorney Kristin Fangirlin, easily steals the show with her performance.

It is self-aware - it breaks the fourth wall, is sassy, quick-witted and has everyone dancing in their seats. With references from Drag Race to The Princess Diaries and many more cultural moments that have taken the internet by storm over the years, it sits right in the pocket of Gen Z’s humour.

It may not be for everyone, and its future after the Edinburgh Fringe is questionable. However, if you enjoy flamboyant and theatrical performances, it’s worth adding to your Fringe watchlist.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Catriona Lamb

I Wish You Well: The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical runs at Underbelly's ‘Udderbelly’ venue at Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 26 August. For more info, please click here.