⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

2:22 (a ghost story) is a show that has generated some serious buzz on the West End, especially given it’s constant big-named cast. With the likes of James Buckley (best known for Jay from the Inbetweeners), Lily Allen and Cheryl, from Girls Aloud, it has been a cast of stars. It’s been getting some major talk from the West End, and now it’s here in the Midlands with some more big names under its belt.

Now, I’m always sceptical about shows that carry big names, wondering if it’s to compensate elsewhere.

So, although I’d seen the buzz, I had deliberately steered clear of all reviews to make sure that I went in completely blind and free of spoilers and I’m so glad I did. In all honestly, the less you know about 2:22, the better.

This is a show that centres around four friends, Jenny (Fiona Wade), Sam (George Rainsford), Lauren (Vera Chok) and Ben (Jay McGuiness) who are having a dinner party at Jenny and Sam’s. Poor Jenny is a frazzled mother who is contending and battling with life post-partem with her 11 month old daughter, who is intermittently asleep upstairs, the know-it-all and fascinated with the skies Sam, mental health worker and heavy drinker Lauren and your run of a mill next door neighbour seemingly good guy Ben.

Basically, Jenny is convinced something strange is going on and she’s going to find out once and for all. She’s going to prove to her naysayer husband Sam that she’s not crazy, and she’s right. How? By making the group of them stay up until 2:22 to find out.

The show has a real good pace that made the entire performance fly by. The use of the digital clocks lit up bringing tension as time progresses and allows the story to move forward by letting you know how close we’re getting to that crucial moment in time.

I hadn’t expected so much comedy to be woven into 2:22, which I found the most came from Ben (Jay McGuiness). Jay was such a standout performance for me. He had the audience laughing constantly with his one-liners and his reactive facial expressions often turning a high brow to pretentious Sam.

The staging is a clever and detailed static reconstruction of an old house which has been reformed, yet still showed cracks of the history. I did expect more effects from the set, mainly because I thought the half-done painting, or the frames missing would have more relevance but they weren’t. I did find the rainbow painting a little inconsistent as there’s no way, even a genius 11 month old, is painting a rainbow worthy of a pre-schooler, but minor details!

Along with the main plot of the ghost hunting, there is theming of relationship breakdowns, too close for comfort friendships, injustices, social class inequalities, regret, loss and belief.

I thought the ending of 2:22 was absolutely brilliant, and neither myself or Alex had seen it coming. Despite the fact both of us are usually quick at these sort of things. We spoke about it at such great length after the show pining over all of the little hints that had been there all along. I’d absolutely love to see 2:22 again to see if there are more hints about the ending that we might’ve missed and see how consistent it is with the plot.

Overall, I thought this was a really good show which was both entertaining and comical. I hope to see it on another UK tour run soon!

Until 11 May 2024