REVIEW: 200th episode of Closer Each Day: The Improvised Soap Opera – ‘A vivacious showing’

“I’ve been to every one of the last 100 episodes bar one”, a young man at the bar says at the interval of cult improvised sitcom Closer Each Day.

His comments sums up the commitment of this audience to the beloved soap opera, which yesterday hit its 200th ‘episode’.

The show, which started 11 years ago and stands at a total of 24 series, is the UK’s longest-running theatre show outside of London and the world’s longest-running improvised narrative.

Attendees at this milestone showing bask in these achievements, sharing details of the episodes they have seen and asking if others were there for the wedding, or the abduction, or one of the many affairs.

It certainly is a vivacious performance. After so long acting together, the cast has developed a rapport that makes the comedy all that much slicker. There are some really excellent comic moments, from Captain Billy’s (Malcolm Hamilton) apparent corpse being ‘washed up’ on a beach (i.e. the actor rolling hilariously across to stage), to rivals Candi and Constance’s impassioned snog, to a barrage of one-liners from Fred (Andrew Kingston) that, I am embarrassed to say, made me squeak with laughter.

200th Episode, Closer Each Day – 6.6.22 – photo: Daisy Tian Dai

New to the stage is Sylvia Bishop as Dotty. Perpetually sporting her sweetest smile, she manages to get away with any behaviour under the guise of innocence. Even though this is only Bishop’s second ever performance, she slots into the company seamlessly and is one of the strongest performers on stage.

Also excellent is Lindsey Garwood as Constance. Bold and voluptuous, she takes centre stage in this episode in her attempt to kill off her rival to be MP, sassy and fearless Candi Johnson (Alice Lamb). Effortlessly funny, she is a larger-than-life character who is a joy to watch.

200th Episode, Closer Each Day – 6.6.22 – photo: Daisy Tian Dai

I also thoroughly enjoyed Peta Maurice as nature-loving hippy Debita (Debra) Webra (she owns all of nature, don’t you know). Debra clads herself in a multi-coloured pair of dungarees and enormous pair of glasses that only strengthens her resemblance to Professor Trelawney.

AJ Shaw (Matthew Whittle) provides stand-out entertainment as a man-child council worker in a too-tight t-shirt who gets a job aboard a cruise ship then promptly sinks it. He is endlessly affable, yet totally, hopelessly chaotic.

An initially awkward couple of scenes between Gina (Rachael Lane) and new husband Big Dick Johnson (John Lomas), where attempts to move the dialogue onto a discernible narrative are stilted, soon give way to steadier territory and the pair deliver some of the funniest moments of the show.

For newcomers to the soap, don’t worry that you won’t know the plot to date: it is all explained to you at the start by show editor Rob Kershaw, who provides link-ins to each scene and generally gives the piece a sense of cohesion.

This is also helped enormously by Jack Drewry, who as musical director provides accompaniments (all improvised) and sound effects on his piano keyboard at the side of the stage. The often-subtle tunes provide a sense of atmosphere that really lifts the scenes.

This was a highly enjoyable special episode of Closer Each Day, in which many performers from the show’s past graced the stage once more. It is definitely worth a watch, every other Monday at the Wardrobe Theatre. But beware: at its 300th episode, you may be the person at the bar boasting that you have seen every one of the soap’s last 100 shows.

200th Episode, Closer Each Day – 6.6.22 – photo: Daisy Tian Dai

For more information about Closer Each Day: The Improvised Soap Opera and the company’s 200th Episode Season, visit www.closereachday.co.uk.

Main photo: Closer Each Day

Read more: Cult hit ‘Closer Each Day: The Improvised Soap Opera’ reaches its 200th episode

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