I Wish You Well is a pop culture triumph – and it’s showing at the Edinburgh Fringe festival right now.
Packed full of tight scenes, knee-slap gags and catchy tunes, it’s not one to miss if you’re a fan of parody musicals and, of course, queen Gwyneth Paltrow.
The Talented Mr Ripley actress was sued by retired optometrist Terry Sanderson over a collision on a ski slope in Utah – so naturally, this warranted a musical. Be glad it did.
The joke running through the hour is that poor old Terry doesn’t stand a chance against Hollywood megastar Gwyneth, as she turns to the audience – who are set up as the Jury – with royal waves and air kisses, while Terry fails miserably at the same seduction tactics.
Word on the street is that Gwyneth herself might be up for seeing I Wish You Well – named after her famous final words to Sanderson after she successfully counter-sued him for $1 – when it hits London’s West End.
If she has a sense of humour Gwyneth will probably enjoy it, as the play is essentially a love letter to the woman herself with a generous sprinkling of mockery, including references to her Gloop vagina-scented candles and questions of how big Brad Pitt’s willy is.
It turns out X Factor star Diana Vickers – who took part in the singing competition in 2008 – can act as well as sing, as she portrays the actress in the lead role alongside three co-stars, who also bossed their performances.
Vickers has Gwyneth’s airy, aloof disposition down to a fine art, and nailed the Sliding Doors star’s mannerisms – from her little head nod to re-ruffle her hair, to the star’s nonchalant eye roll.
Each actor was given their moment to shine – and that they did. Tori Allen-Martin did a brilliant job of capturing Sanderson’s lawyer Kristin’s internal – and external – battle between doing her job and shimmying up to queen Gwyneth and did so with triumphant comic timing.
Marc Antolin as Terry was perfect in his blundering awkwardness to counteract Gwyneth’s charismatic ease, and his strip tease to the Jury audience was one of the funniest moments as he desperately clambered to get them on side.
Idriss Kargbo stole the show’s musical element as he played the Judge while sporting some huge pink heels, doing the splits and racing around the stage with the energy of a supernova. He’s a blossoming superstar – so definitely one to watch.
Songs were catchy, well-delivered and audiences were left wanting more, not wishing it away. Energetic, sharp, and with equally brilliant acting and performance, this musical is an explosion of showbiz mockery that just feels good.Sometimes that’s just the tonic.
I Wish You Well – The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical is at the Edinburgh Fringe everyday until August 26 at 17.45. Tickets available here.
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