[Apologies for the late publication of this review – an editorial error.]

Full disclosure: I am associated with the NZIF. I’ve been working as their publicist this year. However, I lost a reviewer at late notice, and had to step in. For transparency’s sake, I’ve not seen these performers perform before in this group and I don’t know the full team.

Together and apart. The relationships we build with those near us and across the seas. Close is an excellent piece of improv drama, by the endlessly skilled Best on Tap team. Having just come off a season at Circus Bar last week, they bring their show to BATS for one night only.

Accompanied by Sebastian Morgan-Lynch on the cello, weightlifters in an opening tableaux mug for the camera. Four men try desperately to avoid talking about their feelings over a Zoom call. A dog psychiatrist gets four new clients, and a couple roleplays saucy Marvel superheroes.

All these events lead up to a scene in a bed, where multiple couples stand up and chat, post-coital. He’s happy, she’s not, it was a, “solid six out of ten, might be upgraded with more people”, then a foursome turns it into an eight. It’s a solid springing-off point for the rest of the show, which features an unbelievably horny scene on a train, the return of the Zoom manchat, as well as some dancing to Lady Gaga.

Then, we’re back where we started, with the weightlifters posing for a photo, though this time they can hardly smile for it, because they’re all too Botox’d up.

Close is the perfect catharsis for the strangeness of these times. It’s intimate and silly, and most importantly, grounded in humanity. It’s very lovely to watch talented people enjoying what they do, and I love the weird places the show delves into. A wholesome (to a point), and heartwarming (definitely), watch.

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