Review: 2:22 A GHOST STORY, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

At Festival Theatre until September 30th

By: Sep. 29, 2023

Review: 2:22 A GHOST STORY, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh Review: 2:22 A GHOST STORY, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh If you go to 2:22 A Ghost Story expecting traditional spine-chilling phantoms, you will be disappointed. Renowned in the West End for starry casts and numerous awards, 2:22 A Ghost Story isn't really a ghost story at all. Far from the horror genre, the piece is an amusing but long-winded exploration of how we define ghosts and view ghost believers... with some overused jumpscares.

Married couple and new parents Sam (Nathaniel Curtis, star of It's a Sin) and Jenny (Louise Lytton) have moved into a flat in London. Despite the dying wishes of a former owner to keep the place intact, the couple have completely renovated it. Jenny is convinced the flat is haunted - every night at 2:22am she feels a disturbing presence and hears spooky noises on her baby monitor. Sam, the ultimate skeptic and mansplainer, continuously dismisses her concerns as they aren't scientifically possible.

When Sam's old friend Lauren (Charlene Boyd) and her beau Ben (Joe Absolom) visit for dinner, they all decide to stay in the flat until 2:22am to see if Jenny's claims are legitimate. All the actors do a great job - the relationship between realist Sam and ghost-believer Ben is particularly comical and cleverly portrayed, evolving from snarky comments into a full-blown argument. Lytton's determination to prove her husband wrong is clear, Boyd's deterioration into drunkenness is both amusing and sympathy-inducing. Anna Fleischle's set is divinely meticulous, Ian Dickinson's sounds are appropriately suspensful and are beautifully complimented by Cindy Lin's costumes.

However, what unfolds is a perplexing cross between a dark comedy, a farce, a pseudo-psychological study and a romantic TV sitcom. There are multiple plotholes, anger lashouts that come out of nowhere and relationship drama that feels irrelevant. All characters lack depth and feel like plot devices chugging the story along.

The play is funny, well-acted and a good night out, but don't expect anything wildly profound... or a horror piece.

2:22 A Ghost Story is at the Festival Theatre until 30 September, then touring

Photo Credit: Johan Persson




RELATED STORIES - Scotland

1
Review: ALADDIN, Macrobert Arts Centre Photo
Review: ALADDIN, Macrobert Arts Centre

Get ready for a disco inferno, as we join the McTwank family in the town that Stirling Stella almost forgot- Discotopia. Here lives widow Marge O'Reen McTwank, owner of the last laundrette in town. Her oldest daughter, Aladdin, is wildly in love with Prince Jasper but can love survive the grease stains and smell of fabric conditioner?

2
Xiomaros Big Apple Street Photography To Return To Scotland Photo
Xiomaro's Big Apple Street Photography To Return To Scotland

'Discover the captivating street photography of New York artist Xiomaro in his latest exhibition at the Glasgow Gallery of Photography.'

3
Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, PACE at the Art Department, Paisley Photo
Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, PACE at the Art Department, Paisley

Panto is back! Join CHRIS ALEXANDER and ALAN ORR this Christmas for PACE Theatre Company’s 34th annual pantomime.

4
Review: SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN MAWS, Oran Mor, Glasgow Photo
Review: SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN MAWS, Oran Mor, Glasgow

Think you’re having a bad day? Snow White’s is worse. She’s just found out that not only has her dad, the King, remarried – but he’s only gone and died!

From This Author - Mary Baillie

Mary is a world citizen with a degree in theatre and anthropology, and is currently pursuing another in English Literature. She loves everything theatre-related and is excited to be writing for B... Mary Baillie">(read more about this author)

Videos


Ian Smith: Crushing in Scotland Ian Smith: Crushing
Monkey Barrel Comedy (2/24-2/24)
Sam Campbell: Wobservations in Scotland Sam Campbell: Wobservations
Monkey Barrel Comedy (3/06-3/10)
Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time in Scotland Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time
Alhambra Theatre (9/21-9/21)
Paddy Young: Hungry, Horny, Scared in Scotland Paddy Young: Hungry, Horny, Scared
Monkey Barrel Comedy (2/17-2/17)
Alfie Brown: Red Flags Galore! in Scotland Alfie Brown: Red Flags Galore!
Monkey Barrel Comedy (11/24-11/24)
Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time in Scotland Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time
Perth Theatre and Concert Hall (1/20-1/20)
Steve Bugeja: Self Doubt (I Think) in Scotland Steve Bugeja: Self Doubt (I Think)
Monkey Barrel Comedy (6/13-6/13)
Robin Morgan: Snip Snip, Bitch in Scotland Robin Morgan: Snip Snip, Bitch
Monkey Barrel Comedy (1/20-1/20)
Sarah Keyworth: Work In Progress in Scotland Sarah Keyworth: Work In Progress
Monkey Barrel Comedy (1/25-1/25)
The Snow Queen in Scotland The Snow Queen
Royal Lyceum Theatre (11/23-12/31)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You