IF ghosts don’t exist, why do people see them?
It’s the question that haunts the dinner party at the centre of Danny Robins’ spooky play, which has become a must-see West End hit. Now on tour, 2:22 A Ghost Story is thrilling Alhambra audiences this week.
New parents Jenny and Sam are renovating their London house - an old property whose past lives are being eroded beneath fancy sky lights and patio doors. Entering the chaos of half-plastered walls and tubs of white spirit are dinner party guests Lauren, Sam’s old university friend, and her new boyfriend, Ben.
It’s a rather awkward gathering - with flashes of class conflict, marital discord and an unresolved past - then Jenny reveals that she thinks her home is haunted. Husband Sam is a scathing sceptic but Ben, who has an interest in the paranormal, reckons there’s something in it.
It’s belief versus science as the wine flows and Alexa churns out Sam’s dinner party soundtrack. Tension mounts as the clock ticks towards 2:22 - the time Jenny claims she hears something strange in her baby’s bedroom every night. Will the four of them stay up until 2:22? And if they do, will they finally know whether ghosts exist or not?
Written by Danny Robins, creator of hit podcasts The Battersea Poltergeist and Uncanny, this is a play with a twist. No spoilers here, although I will say I didn’t see it coming. I was too busy chasing the red herrings skilfully woven in.
Robbins’ sparkling script veers from sharp comedy to uncomfortable outbursts as the dinner party unfolds. At times it felt a bit clunky, with some earnest social comment shoehorned in, and some of the smart lines almost drowned in delivery that was either too fast or lacked enough projection.
Unlike some in the audience who screamed out loud, I wasn’t spooked by this play, but I enjoyed the chilling tension. As 2:22 edges closer, there’s something deliciously unnerving about the neon light of the clock, at times filling the stage, set against the eerie bassline of Massive Attack’s Angel.
The staging is impressive - Anna Fleischle’s chic open-plan living space, in a house that feels a long way from being a home, reflects themes of middle-class aspiration and the urban gentrification knocking through old neighbourhoods. “We’re still here,” snarls working-class builder Ben, beautifully played by the excellent Jay McGuiness.
This is an intense four-hander, delivered by an impressive cast. McGuiness shone as Ben, a sensitive soul lurking beneath a wide boy swagger, and Vera Chok was quietly devastating as Lauren, revealing more snippets of her unhappiness with each slug of wine.
Strong performances too from Fiona Wade as anxious Jenny, fighting to be heard, and George Rainsford as condescending Sam.
Do ghosts exist? Get yourself along to the Alhambra to find out...
* 2:22 A Ghost Story Runs at the Alhambra until Saturday, June 1.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel