Is 2:22 A Ghost Story worth seeing?
Is 2:22 A Ghost Story worth seeing? The short answer is yes. Yes it is.
I had no expectations or preconceptions of this play before I saw it, and sometimes I think that’s how you have the best experience. You’re enjoying the journey, not just the bits you’ve seen in adverts or what people have told you. You go with the flow and let the characters take you on a journey with them. This is exactly how I felt watching 2:22.
About the play:
Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer. So they’re going to stay up until 2:22….and then they’ll know.
A little background information:
2:22- A Ghost Story is an Award-winning supernatural thriller that has spent time at the Noël Coward, Gielgud, Criterion and The Lyric Theatres before appearing at the Apollo Theatre London. During its run, it has had some immediately recognisable names on stage, recently including Frankie Bridge, Ricky Champ, Clifford Samuel and Jaime Winstone.
Written by award-winning writer Danny Robins and directed by Matthew Dunster, the story is intense but has its fair share of lighthearted moments and points where you could see the story unravel in your own house. It’s no wonder it has won three whatsonstage Awards and been nominated for 3 Oliviers!
Initial thoughts:
With only a small cast on stage, you feel like you’re sitting in the living room/ kitchen with them. The characters are all relatable in some way. At least, if you can’t relate to them personally, you definitely know people like them.
You have the absolute know-it-all-all. He thinks everything can be explained by logic and reason, and loves letting everyone know just how brilliant he is.
Then you have the new mum. Her anxiety about the safety of her baby is through the roof, and all she is looking for is a little support.
Add into the mix the career girl who is keen to settle after scrolling through her Instagram feed and seeing all of her friends find their happy endings.
Finally, you have the new boyfriend. A man who has been pushed out of his hometown because of gentrification, and is finding his way as he meets his girlfriend’s oldest friend.
It’s a classic dinner party setting. In other words, it’s everything you think would happen when you mix old friends with new ones and many, many bottles of wine.
The story had me on my toes the whole way through, and the jump scares! They were so well-timed. I barely knew if I should laugh or hide half the time. This is largely due to the brilliant set, lighting and sound effects, but also the acting was spot on. You know an actor is fantastic when you can see real tears streaming down their face in desperation. (We were in the second row so could see every little tear).
Overall:
I thought the play was emotional and evocative and I really loved it. I’m not one for scary stories, but this was something different. It wasn’t terrifying or gruesome or anything like that. It was a classic kitchen sink drama mixed with a ghost story and if you have the chance to go see it, I would!
If you missed out on getting tickets to the London show at the Apollo, the show is going on tour. You can see all future dates and get tickets here.
