Constance Wu, Finn Wittrock, Anna Camp to lead North American premiere of 2:22 A GHOST STORY

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 3:29pm

At the Ahmanson Theatre in LA 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 3:36pm

why can't this be in new york grrrrr

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 3:48pm

oh with this cast I would absolutely expect it to come to Broadway 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 4:09pm

What a stacked cast. I could definitely see this making a transfer in the spring.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 4:23pm

You don't get this cast and and then NOT have Broadway ambitions. 

[Laurapattifan]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 4:55pm

Smart move to have a cast of film and tv actors open in LA. Hopefully this builds some social media buzz. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 5:10pm

jkcohen626 said: "You don't get this cast and and then NOT have Broadway ambitions."

I mean, you could make the opposite case that it's arguably easier to get film and TV actors to commit to a local LA production, than to commit to a run across the country (I often think about about how Tom Hanks recently played Falstaff in LA, and as far as I could tell there wasn't even conversation around a NY run). Neither Anna Camp nor Finn Whitrock are strangers to Broadway though, so we'll see. I do wonder about Constance Wu.

I also wonder how much these names will actually mean to the general public. I think we've learned recently that simply having well-known film/TV actors in your cast, doesn't necessarily guarantee recoupement. Though as I often say, I'm bad at gauging the name value of people these days. Constance Wu is definitely well-known, and probably even well-liked - but will people pay Broadway prices to see her? I genuinely don't know.

Anna Camp and Finn Whitrock were both on Broadway 5 years ago, along side other stars, and neither of those plays sold well.

Anyway, hope I'm wrong. Hope it comes to NY, and I'll happily see it.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 6:35pm

Super excited for this!  Saw it in London and my biggest disappointment was that I couldn't see it again, but I'll just happen to be in LA in early November.  Does anyone know if the Ahmanson usually does rush tickets for all their shows? I know they've done TodayTix rush in the past

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 6:45pm

Constance Wu is definitely well-known, and probably even well-liked…

https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-constance-wu-get-canceled-for-being-ungrateful

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 7:08pm

chrishuyen said: "Super excited for this! Saw it in London and my biggest disappointment was that I couldn't see it again, but I'll just happen to be in LA in early November. Does anyone know if the Ahmanson usually does rush tickets for all their shows? I know they've done TodayTix rush in the past"

this is in their biggest space and none of the musicals have filled it I doubt a play even with these names is going to fill it, I would highly expect a todaytix rush or lottery 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 8:56pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Constance Wu is definitely well-known, and probably even well-liked…

https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-constance-wu-get-canceled-for-being-ungrateful"

Ya might want to read some of Wu's recent interviews about what it was like working on that show before you regurgitate that nonsense about her being "ungrateful".

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 10:51pm

JBroadway said: "I also wonder how much these names will actually mean to the general public. I think we've learned recently that simply having well-known film/TV actors in your cast, doesn't necessarily guarantee recoupement."

This. The ladies of POTUS had more box office value than this quartet. This feels like the type of cast you'd see somewhere like the New Group, and it would still end up on TDF.

Now, if it gets great reviews and is a good play, that plus the cast could be enough to get the show capitalized for Broadway. But that's different than actually recouping on Bway.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 11:08pm

KevinKlawitter said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Constance Wu is definitely well-known, and probably even well-liked…

https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-constance-wu-get-canceled-for-being-ungrateful"

Ya might want to read some of Wu's recent interviews about what it was like working on that show before you regurgitate that nonsense about her being "ungrateful"."

I have and it’s part of her PR “revelation” to promote her new book.  No one in the industry pays her any attention and this sudden revelation coinciding with the release of her new book is part of her endless attempts at damage control.  I have 2 friends who worked on FRESH OFF THE BOAT it’s entire run and have horrible things to say about her.  

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 11:11pm

Ok well, I don’t know enough about this Constance Wu situation to weigh in on it personally. But if she’s not well-liked by the public, then that just supports my hypothesis even more - and if she IS well-liked, then, well, see my other points. 

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 11/1/22 at 9:51am

Really looking forward to this -- and agree, how can they not be thinking about taking this to Broadway after the ginormous success it is in London. 

This cast is terrific.

Has anyone seen this yet?

also, no comment on Connie Wu who has a terrible reputation 

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 11/3/22 at 9:26am

The show was fantastic - so much fun.  Truly entertaining, witty and yes scary at times -- but not like jump cuts in a horror film scary -- and no gore whatsoever - just suspense.  Less you know going into the show the better.  Can see why this has been such a huge hit in London for the past few years.  

The cast is outstanding and really work as an ensemble.   Production design, score and direction are top  notch.  I never saw the show in London but for this production they moved the setting from modern day London to modern day Boston.  

Huge twist that I personally did not see coming but damn it works.   That shared communal sense of being in the dark, sharing in being scared, sharing some wickedly funny moments really made for a great night out at the theater.   With the exception of a Wait Until Dark production with Allison Pill - I never really got to experience  a proper whodunnit/thriller play.  This was just so fun

I suspect this will be heading to Broadway - and it deserves to Given the cast, production design and the great entertainment (and you will be talking it about for hours and a day or so on end).  So much fun - if you are in LA - check this out

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 5:58pm

First look 

[ggersten]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 6:06pm

Hmm, moving the locale to Boston?  I guess that could work. I guess Boston is dealing with the gentrification issues that are part of 2:22.  I guess Ben is a "southie"?  Where is Lauren from now?  In the London production, she was an American. 

If there are no jump scares, does that mean they got rid of the between scenes "shriek" and blaring red lights which became laughable. 

I did enjoy this in London - although asking questions afterwards is not productive!

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I did think the ending was a bit abrupt. It is just the gut punch. Afterwards, I thought tt was set up for Lauren to shout "HA! Sam was wrong!" or for Sam to say "I guess I was wrong" - except Sam has left the stage at that point. Excellent direction because I didn't notice he was gone!

 

[Wildcard]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 6:20pm

They still had the red lights and screams. Yes, they became laughable but they did keep the audience on edge. Ben was the only character who had a distinct Boston accent which made sense. I saw this on the first performance and even then, the cast was top notch. I'd love to see it again to pick up on all the clues sprinkled throughout the show. 

[dshnookie]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 7:10pm

Wait. Are we talking about the same show? I saw this in London back in June and I thought it was laughably horrid. Who said there aren’t jump scares? I guess those deafening shrieks after every scene don’t count as jump scares. Happy to all who enjoyed it but this was very amateurish at best.

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 7:51pm

dshnookie said: "Wait. Are we talking about the same show? I saw this in London back in June and I thought it was laughably horrid. Who said there aren’t jump scares? I guess those deafening shrieks after every scene don’t count as jump scares. Happy to all who enjoyed it but this was very amateurish at best."

I agree, if it gets to Broadway it would get torn apart. It's so disjointed and unfocused that it has no clue what it wants to accomplish, cheap scares? A drama? 

The biggest pet peeve I had was the missed opportunity to write an important play regarding the afterlife and why we cling so hard to it. Instead, it's M Night Shyamalan onstage.

The characters also drink so much that they would have died of alcohol poisoning before seeing any ghost.

[James885]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 8:50pm

I saw this at the Ahmanson a couple days ago and agree that although the cast is excellent - Anna Camp especially - the play itself is very unfocused and seems to want to talk about too many things at once. I did enjoy the staging and the production design but the story's a mess. For instance, I disliked how the topic of gentrification was brought up and then discarded midway through.

The jump scare shrieks between every scene got really old really fast. The twist ending was unexpected, but  didn't feel earned. Neither did another weird revelation about the Ben character that occurs later in the show. 

Overall, I'd give it a B-. I wouldn't spend a fortune seeing it but if you go for the cheap-ish tix like we did, it's worth checking out just to form your own opinion.

Updated On: 11/5/22 at 08:50 PM

[SydneyBristow]

Posted: 11/4/22 at 11:13pm

Seating recommendations?  Given the mixed feedback on content, to take the trip to LA, I'd appreciate insight deciding between these "value" areas:

Orchestra- pretty rear and way off to the side (exe Row T, Seat 5)
     or
Mezzanine- front but way off to the side (exe Row A, Seat 2)
(concern is Mezzanine looks waaay far back in photos)
     or
Box- super side view, but at least much closer to stage (esp Mezz 2nd Box)

Also, is sitting Left or Right better for this show?

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 11/5/22 at 12:04am

The characters also drink so much that they would have died of alcohol poisoning before seeing any ghost."

Come, now... can it really be considered a stage thriller if the characters aren't downing liquor during every other scene?

[James885]

Posted: 11/5/22 at 1:54am

SydneyBristow said: "Seating recommendations? Given the mixed feedback on content, to take the trip to LA, I'd appreciate insight deciding between these "value" areas:

Orchestra- pretty rear and way off to the side (exe Row T, Seat 5)
or
Mezzanine- front but way off to the side (exe Row A, Seat 2)
(concern is Mezzanine looks waaay far back in photos)
or
Box- super side view, but at least much closer to stage (esp Mezz 2nd Box)

Also, is sitting Left or Right better for this show?"

You should be fine if you go with the mezz seats, - it's true that the mezzanine at the Ahmanson is kinda far back, but you'll get a pretty unobstructed view of everything happening. I'd avoid the box seats as you risk a good chunk of your view being obstructed.

We were in the second row of the mezzanine and sitting off towards the right side and had no problem seeing everything.