2:22 A Ghost Story | Lyric Theatre

No, I’m not going to make any Cheryl or Girls Aloud puns in this review.

The play that seems to be touring all over the West End, I first saw 2:22 A Ghost Story in January 2022 featuring Giovanna Fletcher’s wonderful understudy Rhiannon Handy, Stephanie Beatriz, Elliot Cowan and James Buckley. Haunting the Noel Coward, Gielgud and Criterion theatres, it’s now the Lyric Theatre’s turn which features arguably its most head-turning casting with Girls Aloud member and pop star Cheryl as Jenny.

Also starring Scott Karim (Halo), Louise Ford (The Windsors) and Jake Wood (Eastenders), was 2:22 A Ghost Story fourth time’s charm in its new West End home?

2:22 A Ghost Story

Cast

• Jenny: Cheryl
• Sam: Scott Karim
• Lauren: Louise Ford
• Ben: Jake Wood

Venue: Lyric Theatre

Rating: ★★★★

What is 2:22 A Ghost Story About?

New mother Jenny (Cheryl) thinks she’s being haunted in her new house. Hearing footsteps and a person crying in her daughter’s room over the last four days, she and her sceptic husband Sam (Scott Karim) arrange a dinner party with his college friend Lauren (Louise) and her builder boyfriend Ben (Jake Wood). As the quartet gets more boozed up and clash on everything from parakeets to Alexa, they (and we) patiently wait for the red digital clock to strike at the dreaded time: 2:22 (when else?).

What did I think of 2:22 A Ghost Story?

I enjoyed seeing 2:22 A Ghost Story for a second time because it felt like a whole new experience. While I thought the run I saw last year was more psychological with a spin-chilling tone, director Matthew Dunster now leans into a more comedic approach. Garnering more laughs than screams from the audience, it used horror tropes with its tongue firmly in cheek while lines told in hushed tones with pregnant pauses now had characters shouting over each other. I had some problems with this change in direction when it came to characterisation, but I’ll explain later.

While many will go into 2:22 A Ghost Story expecting full on horror, Danny Robins’ clever script explores topics including gentrification, classism, spiritualism and religion while the scares are relegated to outside the story. If you are anxious about the jump scares, it’s easy to spot when they’re coming as they’re used for scene transitions which uses a scream, blackout and the proscenium framed in red. Coming from someone who gets easily jumpy, you should definitely be fine.

Outside of the casting, the other aspect people talk about when leaving 2:22 A Ghost Story is its twist ending. While I correctly predicted it the first time as my inner writer deciphered the clues (no spoilers), it was still interesting seeing it again not to just see how the cast fared, but to catch other hints I missed. What I really mean is survey Anna Fleische’s amazing set design of a partly renovated London townhouse, adding to the show’s intimacy as a red digital clock ticks in real time to add a sense of foreboding.

What was the cast like?

I know what the real question is and I’ll answer it immediately as Cheryl’s casting garnered such a divisive reaction that Rob Madge joked about it. I also had reservations but quickly remembered 2:22 A Ghost Story has been built on casting celebrities to bring in audiences including pop stars (Olivier nominee) Lily Allen and Matt Willis, reality stars Giovanna Fletcher and Laura Whitmore, TV stars James Buckley, Mandip Gill and Stephanie Beatriz, and Harry Potter actor Tom Felton. Putting the debate on stunt casting aside, in my most unbiased opinion I felt Cheryl did a good job.

Jenny isn’t the most demanding role as the stock character desperate for everyone to believe her stories about being haunted, but Cheryl made her feel realistic in her worries as her hysteria grew throughout the night. Letting loose and sinking her teeth into the more shouty moments with her iconic Geordie accent, I felt at some points she could’ve toned it up and down emotionally, but for a West End debut with little acting experience there are much worse examples I can think of.

Scott Karim was also enjoyable as Sam and he did an amazing job, but my problems with the change in direction made the character feel too obnoxious and condescending when using logic to dismiss all of the character’s paranormal experiences and beliefs. As a result it made me believe in Sam and Jenny’s relationship less, as once affectionate moments grew cold to the point I questioned what she saw in him.

My standout performer in 2:22: A Ghost Story was easily Eastenders star Jake Wood, reprising his WhatsOnStage award winning turn as Ben after the previously announced Hugo Chegwin was forced to withdraw. The performer most at home with his character, Wood easily garnered the most laughs which were a welcome addition to elevate the more tense moments. I also have to praise comedian Louise Ford as Lauren. Unlike Stephanie Beatriz’s (phenomenal) fun yet messy drunk I saw, Ford went all in getting hammered while having her more contemplative moments of what could have been with Sam.

What were my overall thoughts?

Like I said, I enjoyed watching 2:22 A Ghost Story with its new cast to the point it made me regret missing the Noel Coward and Criterion runs. Still slick, tense, funny and oh so scary with charming performances from all four actors, I welcome Danny Robbins’ play touring through the West End if it means more surprise castings. Will I be returning when it eventually makes its way to the Palladium starring Adele, Harry Styles, Idris Elba and Margot Robbie? Absolutely.

2:22 A Ghost Story runs at the Lyric Theatre until April 23rd 2023.