Do you believe in ghosts? 2:22 A Ghost Story should make you question your beliefs and decide whether you do or not.
Is it a dark comedy, or a horror story? Whatever it is, Danny Robins play fast seems to be gaining cult status, a la Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, with its plea at the end to ‘shh, don’t tell’.
A variety of famous names have starred in the London West End productions, including the actor Lily Allen and singer Cheryl Cole.
At Bath we had former EastEnders star Joe Absolom as builder Ben, Charlene Boyd as his partner Lauren, Nathaniel Curtis as the rational husband Sam, and Louisa Lytton as his paranoid wife Jenny, who believes their home is haunted.
The rest of the company is made up of Natalie Boakye and Grant Kilburn, who literally have walk-on roles right at the very end.
The first UK tour of 2:22 - A Ghost Story opened at the Theatre Royal on September 1 and ran until September 9.
Now playing its sixth season in the West End, 2:22 - A Ghost Story can also be seen at London’s Apollo Theatre.
Brilliantly funny in place and intriguing in others; 2:22 A Ghost Story is definitely a spine-chiller in places.
There’s enough clues for you to work out the end, but when it does arrive, it comes with a surprising twist that oddly you don’t expect and in hindsight should have known.
True to tradition, I won’t give away the end, suffice to say the production is somewhat spoiled by ‘shouty’ vocal delivery from the actors, particularly Jenny and Sam.
Nathaniel Curtis gives a bellowing performance as the sarky rationalist Sam, against whose overbearing logic former Christian Jenny eventually rebels.
The production is rescued by quietly assured performances of Charlene Boyd as Sam’s drunk university friend Lauren, and Joe Absolom as Ben, who manages to steal most of the scenes he is in.
I thought director Matthew Dunster’s attempts to shock the audience with red flashing lights, mood music and jolts of sound were unnecessary.
The production ultimately succeeds, not because of its dark comedy and horror but in spite of it. The cast were certainly given a rousing reception at the curtain call.
Would I want to see it again? I’m not certain. But I’m glad I stuck it out to the end and didn’t walk out at the interval.
To book tickets for future shows at the Theatre Royal go to www.theatreroyal.org.uk
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