Photo credit: Johan Persson
The unexpected phenomenon that is Danny Robins’ 2:22 – A Ghost Story is now on tour – and its current haunted house is Richmond Theatre. The play has become known for its leftfield casting choices since its initial run at the Noël Coward Theatre in summer 2021; although this has become a bit of a running joke amongst regular theatregoers, there’s no denying the fact that it entices people who wouldn’t usually find themselves in a theatre – the audience at last night’s performance in Richmond was a refreshing blend of demographics. Taking up the 2:22 mantle this time around are George Rainsford, Fiona Wade, Jay McGuiness & Vera Chok.
Sam arrives home from a work trip on Sark to find his wife Jenny in a state of panic; after a series of strange goings-on in their new house, she is convinced that the place is haunted. And when old friend Lauren brings her new boyfriend Ben over for a dinner party, the four of them get sucked into the creepiest waiting game of all time – Jenny wants witnesses, but for that they’ll need to stick it out until 2:22am…
I’m sure the first question on the lips of any prospective audience members is “how scary is it?” – and the answer is: not that scary, actually. It’s more of a psychological thriller than out-and-out horror, with the biggest reactions reserved for the slightly OTT scene transitions; the sound effects at that point are only really there for shock value – it’s fascinating to observe how these moments affect people (although slightly annoying that for some it warrants a full conversation while the stage is being reset).
Whilst the conceit of the play is probably not entirely original, and likely drawn from Robins’ well-publicised interest in the supernatural, it is well plotted out and there don’t appear to be any glaring inconsistencies in the narrative. The simple beauty of this play is that little details of the plot will haunt you in the hours after watching it, as you work back and notice lots of the clues that you missed at the time – rather apt for a ghost story. This was actually my second time seeing the play (my first viewing was two years ago at the Criterion); I can definitely recommend a rewatch as it gives you a chance to pick out the myriad breadcrumbs (and – if you’re me – check for plot holes) – and if it keeps doing the rounds with refreshed casts, then all the more reason to return for more.
Anna Fleischle’s set design is full of nice little details, looking every inch the ‘home-in-progress’ with a flashy new fitted kitchen and half-painted walls. There are plenty of red herrings mixed in with actual clues in the surroundings, and it was interesting to overhear people’s hypotheses during the interval about what was significant and what wasn’t. Mercifully, Fleischle’s design and Matthew Dunster’s direction combine to ensure that there are no widespread sightline issues – it’s particularly important in a play like this that all of the audience (or at least the vast majority) can see every key bit of action.
2:22 is another example of combining comedy with a horror/thriller, and it does it very well. This plays into Jay McGuiness’ hands in the role of Ben, as his strength lies in his comic timing rather than dealing with the more serious moments (his mockney accent makes it feel more like a melodrama). Fiona Wade isn’t overly convincing as Jenny, as her words & actions all feel rather placed – her most natural moments come when the whole group are intent on proving Sam wrong in his ‘Do ghosts exist?’ quiz. Vera Chok fares slightly better, though is at their best as Lauren starts to unravel & lose control, questioning life choices as well as the existence of spirits. George Rainsford is easily the standout as snobby know-it-all Sam, his innocent face belying a controlling nature and the perpetual need to be right.
This is an entertaining piece of theatre with a compelling central plot – and is set to keep audiences on the edge of their seats for years to come!
Photo credit: Johan Persson
My verdict? A compelling psychological thriller with a healthy dose of humour – George Rainsford stands out as know-it-all Sam.
Rating: 4*
2:22 – A Ghost Story runs at Richmond Theatre until 30 March 2024. Tickets are available online or from the box office. Full details of the tour can be found on the official website.
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