Having reviewed quite a few musicals this year, it was a lovely change to take my seat at the Hull New Theatre, in participation of watching a ghost story.
The city’s theatregoers were out in force on Tuesday night when 2:22 A Ghost Story came to the stage.
And what a stage! The setting of a big, old house was wonderfully realistic – large kitchen with the usual electrical trappings, plus a sofa, table, chairs, an Alexa and a baby monitor. Oh, and a large digital clock which my eyes were drawn to every two minutes waiting for it to turn to 2:22.
It’s the home of young married couple Jenny (Fiona Wade) and Sam (George Rainsford) and their baby daughter, Phoebe.
While Sam is away working on the island of Sark, Jenny and her baby girl are alone in the big, rambling house – a house in which weird events are scaring the living daylights out of her.
To prove it’s not her imagination she invites old friend Lauren (Vera Chok) and her new boyfriend Ben (Jay McGuiness), to spend the night there the next time Sam is home.
The young mum has clocked on (pun intended) that all the weirdness takes place at 2:22am each morning, so is keen that her house guests and her husband experience the ghostly shenanigans that have been affecting her.
Hubby Sam simply doesn’t believe in ghosts. Guest Ben, on the other hand, is a believer in all things supernatural.
Friend Lauren has her own demons to deal with, which she drunkenly reveals as the night wears on.
The strange carry-ons seem to centre around the baby’s room. Jenny hears footsteps walking around the cot and the crying of a clearly heartbroken man.
As the wine flows on the reunion night, Ben comes up with a theory that they ought to try to contact the spirit of Frank, the dead former owner of the house.
Cue a moving table, a burning teddy and lights switching on and off. I’d have been out of there in a shot.
All night long the suspense kept us in the audience on the edge of our seats. Thunder roared, lightning flashed, foxes screamed – and every time there was a lull in proceedings, my mind worked overtime, certain something was going to happen. Did it? I’m not saying.
But I will say there are many jump-out-of-your-skin moments in this very entertaining play. You have been warned.
I’m not surprised 2:22 A Ghost Story has taken London’s West End by storm. It was absolutely riveting and passed in a flash.
At the half-time interval I was certain I had worked it all out – but was totally, absolutely, way off the mark.
The main cast of four (two new arrivals made a later appearance), were very convincing in their roles.
This very talented quartet had cruelly and mischievously led me, and probably the rest of the audience, down the wrong path entirely.
My only grouch was that one of the actor’s voices never carried at times, to my seat in row 0, meaning I missed quite a bit of their dialogue.
The final moments of this drama, when that digital clock turned to 2:22am, elicited a prolonged ovation from the audience, who instantly rose as one to show their appreciation for the pesky four who had kept us on tenterhooks all night.
Running until Saturday, May 18th, 2024; 7.30pm nightly with 2.30pm matinees on Thursday 16th and Saturday 18th. Tickets cost from £15. Call (01482) 300306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk
Reviewer: Jackie Foottit
Reviewed: 14th May 2024
North West End UK Rating: