REVIEW: 2:22 A Ghost Story at The Lyric Theatre

2.22 – A Ghost Story is sort of a West End phenomenon, not a lot due to its topic of paranormal exercise within the bed room of an old style London home however due to its capability to draw an viewers on the idea of the star casting as Jenny, the younger mom who experiences experiencing some disturbing exercise at 2.22 am on every of the previous couple of nights. Lily Allen (5.1 m twitter & 1.5m Instagram followers) opened the present on the Noel Coward in August 2021, Giovanni Fletcher (465k Twitter & 2m Instagram followers) performed the Gielgud, Laura Whitmore (438k twitter & 1.5 m Instagram followers) performed on the Criterion and now Cheryl (previously often called Cheryl Cole) with 5.5 m Twitter and three.4m Instagram followers stars within the present for the brief season on the Lyric. No doubt the jubilant producers are already planning its subsequent shocking forged announcement and one other transfer of venue on the finish of the present run. The casting is clearly designed to attraction to the followers of those younger high-profile stars and appears to be working very successfully so critiques will hardly have an effect on gross sales as every star brings the publicity and fan base to make sure a profitable run.

Her husband Sam is performed with an conceited tremendous intelligent perspective by Scott Karim, a person with quite a bit to say however who received’t carry a finger to assist. He has simply returned from a visit to the Isle of Sark and claims to have misplaced his cellphone. Their company are the unlikely couple of Sam’s outdated University good friend Lauren performed by Louise Ford and the East End geezer Ben, with Jake Wood returning to the function he created on its first outing. Over the course of the night, they reveal their very own ghost tales and discover the truths and myths of ghost theories in a witty and entertaining script by Danny Robins affected by visible and spoken clues as to what we’re observing. To say extra would spoil the twists and turns however it’s going to hold you guessing till the two:22 second.

The set design by Anna Fleischle acts as a fifth character, a curious room with peeled again wallpaper revealing previous historical past, an unfeasibly excessive ceiling the place the haunted bed room needs to be and a brand new trendy door to the backyard via which we expertise the sight and sound of city foxes mating in excessive pitched squeals that add to the stress. Dominating the room are two digital clocks which present the passing of time because the night progresses in the direction of the second of fact. Matthew Dunster’s route is taut and pacy with large laughs to interrupt the stress, a number of surprises to ramp it up once more and strained relationships examined by occasions. It sweeps you alongside so there may be hardly time to piece collectively the clues making the ultimate reveal all of the extra satisfying and leaving you piecing all of it collectively on the way in which residence.

The audiences shall be filled with Cheryl followers I’m positive and because the lights dimmed at first there have been massive whoops of enjoyment from them in addition to a standing ovation on the finish and little doubt many will return for a second go to when the data of the reality will add to the enjoyment of the important thing moments within the play. Certainly it’s a play that can stand a second viewing though I would wait to see who performs Jenny subsequent and what venue their West End tour continues to later this yr! It is straightforward to see why this intelligent play is talked about alongside the lengthy operating Woman in Black and the Dyson and Nymen’s spooky Ghost Stories. What’s extra it’s going to entice a youthful demographic to the West End and that may be a superb information for Producers. 

Review by George Butler