Yahoo News 'The shocks just keep on coming' - 2:22 A Ghost Story at Hull New Theatre review
It is a theatre’s job to get bums on seats.
In the case of Hull New Theatre last night, members of the audience were not in theirs much, thanks to 2:22 A Ghost Story.
I would not call this supernatural play edge-of, it is more out-of your seat. I lost count of the times I leapt out of my skin and let out a yelp as the story of home-makers Jenny and Sam and their visiting friends Lauren and Ben unfolded.
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At any other time, this might be an embarrassing display of nerves in such a public setting; however, we were all at it, and giggling at the release of the tension, before settling down to take in more of the creepy action. It was also a night for clock-watching – not because we wanted the performance to end but a digital clock, prominently counting away the minutes, is integral to the plot and the time of 2:22, well, I’m not at liberty to reveal what that is about, but believe me, it is a humdinger.
Written by Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcasts Uncanny and The Battersea Poltergeist, 2:22 A Ghost Story comes fresh from record-breaking seasons at five West End theatres. It is a funny play, as well as adrenaline-fuelled, and the stars all play their parts with aplomb.
Fiona Wade, fresh from Emmerdale, is fabulous as nervy new mum Jenny, governed by every sound of the baby monitor – and other sounds she has heard, too. As the tensions ramp up, she calls out husband Sam (George Rainsford – Casualty) for ripping apart and reinventing the house they bought from a grieving widow and questions his logical explanations for all the strange noises and sensations she has been encountering.
Enter Sam’s long-time friend from uni days Lauren (Vera Chok – Hollyoaks) and her latest beau Ben (Jay McGuiness – The Wanted/ Strictly Come Dancing ) as their first guests and there is a recipe for uncomfortable revelations over dinner and drinks … and more drinks. And those shocks just keep on coming.
The staging is brilliant – even Hull New’s house lights, when up, were dimmer than normal to help create the spooky mood – and clever, given that we are only ever focused on one room in the house where there is seemingly plenty going on in other places. The play goes out with a warning about some of the effects, including strobe lighting and haze onstage; I think I might be tempted to add that those with heart conditions might need to approach this one with caution.
2:22 A Ghost Story runs nightly at Hull New Theatre until Saturday, May 18, with matinee performances today (Wednesday), Thursday and Saturday, and an audio described facility on Thursday evening.
