Lyric Theatre (studio)
19 February 2023 (released)
20 February 2023
The current run of ‘2:22 A Ghost Story’ stars Cheryl (Girls Aloud), Jake Wood (Eastenders) Louise Ford (The Windsors) and Scott Karim (Chasing Hares). Written by Danny Robins and directed by Matthew Dunster, 2:22 has already had three record breaking seasons at the Noel Coward, Gielgud and Criterion Theatres. Now in a new run at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, the play is running until the end of April. 2:22 A Ghost Story is bringing fresh energy to a new audience.
The supernatural drama tells the story of young mother Jenny, played by Cheryl, who believes that the new home she has moved into is haunted. Something scary happens each night when the clock strikes 2:22, when her husband is away on a work trip. Her husband, played by Scott Karim, is a hardened sceptic who believes in facts and science, and her friends decide to stay over one night to see for themselves exactly what happens at 2:22. Is the house truly haunted, or are Jenny's experiences merely the result of a new mother feeling exhausted from the new strains of life?
The play is an eclectic mix of family drama, spine chilling horror and witty, dark humour. The cast deliver their roles beautifully. Cheryl is mesmerising, and she truly shines in her performance as the emotional and terrified mother. Jake Wood delivers his lines with a punch, his character full of moments of humour that regularly break the tension. His off-beat delivery and timing is utterly perfect and really connects with the audience.
Karim and Ford offer a dimension to the play that help bring it to life. Relationships, addiction and lost love are brought to the forefront with their character’s history, which is slowly uncovered through the drama.
The second act of the play is a very tense and atmospheric experience, with the scares ramping up and the story escalating towards a brilliant but unexpected finale. There were audible gasps from the audience as the play reached a truly unnerving end.
Amid the jump-scares and screams from members of the audience, there were also tears as the story reached a climax.
It seems evident from the audiences response, and the standing ovation after the final scene, that Danny Robins play works beautifully on stage. 2:22 A Ghost Story is a captivating and unique West End experience – The Woman In Black for a new era.
The cast shine in their roles and have chemistry. 2:22 A Ghost Story manages to be funny, beautiful and terrifying all at once. You can catch the show at the Lyric Theatre, London, and also check out the official page for details of the upcoming theatre tour, as dates are set to go on sale soon.
