Have you ever thought you heard something, and you don’t know what it is. Is it a ghost? The wind? You’re imagination? And no one believes you – everyone thinks you’re crazy…until….
2:22 A Ghost Story hits the stage in Glasgow’s King’s Theatre with the award winning, star studded, brilliantly funny supernatural thriller gaining attraction quicker than you can say BOO!
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 skepticism 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.
The writing by Danny Robbins is exceptional. The superb balance between comedy and suspense is brilliant and keeps the viewer alert and engrossed till the final line. The storytelling fills you with adrenaline and makes you question everything and anything as you try to decipher what to believe. The realistic relationship and conversational dialogue allows you into the world of the play and the comedy is written very well – distracting you from the underlying tension about the supernatural entities that may be lurking.
Anna Fleischle created a very clean and welcoming set. The simplicity of the living/dining area of Jenny and Ben’s house was perfect as the stage never once felt overcrowded – but always felt busy which is a great balance. The detail Fleischle put into the set was great, guiding the story and giving context to the dialogue surrounding them recently moving in and redeveloping the house to suit them. The back garden area with the motion light and “fog” created such suspense and tension whenever someone would exit and whenever you seen the motion light switch on – you never knew if it was a character or if it was something else.
Matthew Dunster and Isabel Marr created a very clean and excellent play on stage. The direction from both had a clear vision and utilised the entire stage, allowing the stage to feel more open. The suspenseful moments were delivered perfectly in the blocking etc. Truly keeping you on the edge of your seat and making you scan the stage in the hope to find something happening in the background. The ability to direct scenes that are silent but still create amazing moments of suspense, worry and fear was brilliant.
Lighting by Lucy Carter and Sound by Ian Dickinson both added so much to the atmosphere of the show. Carter’s lighting display during the blackouts with the red bar surrounding the stage and blinding the audience to the movement in the dark was very smart, and also added a nice touch to some of the jump scares, alongside the bright white strobe that accompanied the screeching. Dickinson’s underlying sound effects and ominous white noise created a fantastic ambience and chilling atmosphere. These moments grasped the audience and the sound choices always caught your ear.
Joe Absolom was both incredibly annoying and loveable as Ben. The arc the character had was great, going from the know it all new boyfriend to leader of the believers and overcoming the verbal and physical abuse from Sam and Lauren allowed the audience to start getting behind him. Absolom was excellent in his role. His energy was at a very nice level for his characters demeanor. His comedic delivery was fantastic and he just had this presence and attitude about him that suited the character of Ben perfectly.
Charlene Boyd was fantastic as Lauren. Her energy lit up the room and carried the energy level for the entire play – forcing her co-stars to match her from start to finish. The character of Lauren was very in depth, very well thought out by Boyd and the backstory to her character was portrayed and unfolded nicely on stage.
Nathaniel Curtis and Louisa Lytton both stood out with their powerhouse performances and their powerful relationship. Curtis was a presence on stage (not just because of his height). His stage presence was exceptional from the beginning and his energy was bursting out of him from the offset. His comedic timing was on point at all times and his emotional delivery and emotional journey was written and performed superbly. Lytton was the driving force of the show, running the narrative character wise – and running the stage with her amazing performance. Her emotional journey and captivating portrayal of Jenny was an amazing watch for the audience. Lytton showcased her acting skill set, energetic stamina and superb storytelling.
In conclusion, 2:22 delivers a captivating, hilarious and chilling story, showcased by an elite cast performance. A ghost story that definitely leaves you haunted – craving more.
Get your tickets here @ 2:22 A Ghost Story Tickets | King’s Theatre, Glasgow in Glasgow | ATG Tickets
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