2.22  A Ghost story – Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

****

2.22 is a rarity, a brand new  ghost/ thriller story , written by Danny Robins  creator of the hit BBC podcast The Battersea Poltergeist.  It skilfully conflates the traditional Ghost Story  genre as established by Charles Dickens with the current  popular appetite for the paranormal. Touring psychic  Sally Morgan regularly sells out thousand seater plus  venues such as the Grand, this play  taps into that current audience  interest in the paranormal.

Danny Robins

The play premiered in 2021 and has previously featured Lily Allen and Cheryl Cole in lead roles, enjoying  five record-breaking seasons at the Noël Coward, Gielgud, Criterion theatres,  The Lyric Theatre and The Apollo Theatre.

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No good  ghost story is without a twist, and so it is here. Robins implores audience not to share that twist,  and I shall certainly honour that request here.

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A deceptively simple single set  ( Anna Fleischle) admirably establishes the appropriate atmosphere whilst simultaneously conjuring up the odd surprise.

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Largely a four hander,  events unfold for a married couple and their newborn baby hosting an old female friend and her new boyfriend in a recently purchased old house. Before long equally old tensions emerge and “things” go bump in the night, particularly at 2.22am.

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Vera is tautly played by Vera Choc who is convinced that their new home is haunted. Husband Sam ( George Rainsford) is the sceptic, both to his wife, and the audience. Female house guest  Jenny ( Fiona Wade) gives a sparkling nuanced performance but it is “Wanted” pop star Jay McGuinnes who impresses as Essex wide boy , but surprise believer in the paranormal,  who plays his part with confidence, wit and good humour,  the latter of which is liberally interwoven into the  script. An almost sold out first night in a cold wet windy Wolverhampton including an unusually strong young audience demonstrated the strong word of mouth following for this  production and the star quality of McGuinness which was self -evident.

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At two hours including the interval, directors Mathew Dunster and Isabel Marr  keep proceedings zipping along. Robins’ script is lean and  sinewy and requires close listening attention, however  the first half goes nowhere dramatically, a shortfall which is compensated for in spades after the interval.

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Extraneous flashes and screams ratchet up the tension, or are somewhat gauche , dependent upon your mood, I was in the former camp. This production cleverly interweaves a strong story with a broader exploration of the paranormal including past lives and table tipping. I brought along Jane Osborne, the UKs leading Past Life Regressionist for an expert view. Jane found the evening authentic, compelling, gripping and entertaining ( as I did).

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 2.22 plays until Sat  24^th and continues on nationwide tour.