CentralDramaReview

2:22 A Ghost Story – The Alexandra, Birmingham

Reviewer: Skylar Mabry

Writer: Danny Robins

Directors: Matthew Dunster and Isabel Marr

This week, The Alexandra in Birmingham has been transformed into the in-progress living Trhroom/kitchen of a modern, trendy London flat. There’s a large digital clock on the wall and a small one on the top of the refrigerator, both counting through a 24-hour cycle with those unmistakable red numbers at great speed as the audience enters. All around is a sense of excitement and suspense; the audience is jumpy with anticipation.

2:22 A Ghost Story follows Jenny, a new mom facing an inexplicable presence in her posh new flat. Sam, her husband, has just returned from a work trip tonight, as their friend, Lauren, is visiting with her new boyfriend, Ben. Everything seems to be fine on the surface, but underneath, something sinister is brewing.

At the beginning, the cast seems not quite to have settled into their roles. The dialogue feels overly performative and a little pretentious. As the play goes on, this performative style makes more sense to the characters but leaves a gap between realism and drama. Through that gap comes the paranormal – Jenny believes a ghost is targeting their child, and Sam believes that his logic can explain away the unexplainable. Lauren, Sam’s old friend from university, has reasons to believe either could be true, and her new builder boyfriend is firmly a believer.

What would you do if confronted with a ghost? Danny Robins’ script expertly drives through all sorts of possible explanations and justifications, setting logic and intelligence against gut instinct and the belief in something unexplainable at every turn. This play has more to fear than just ghosts – Robins examines gentrification, dysfunctional relationships, mental health, unrequited love, and all the ghosts humans might awaken in our modern lives. It’s a new take on the classic “kitchen sink drama,” now with a supernatural twist.

Jenny and Sam’s house is a well-crafted image of the new covering up the old. With a totally modern, functional kitchen on one side and fading wallpaper and the shadows of old picture frames on the other, Anna Fleischle’s set itself is a battle between logic and instinct, between science and belief. Sound and light are used skilfully to set the tone, to build tension, and to punctuate scenes at critical moments. Audiences beware – there are some shockingly loud and bright moments, particularly during scene changes.

This cast of four has a big task to undertake with this play. Fiona Wade’s Jenny is fiercely protective of her child, fighting a battle of wits against her smarmy, smug husband, Sam (George Rainsford). Rainsford has the challenge of trying to stay likeable even though he’s constantly at odds with every other character, especially with Lauren’s new boyfriend, Ben (Jay McGuinness). McGuiness’s Ben is a surprising guy – a little stiff but still provocative. Lauren (Vera Chok) has to navigate super complicated relationships with each of these people while at the same time navigating a complicated relationship with herself.

2:22 A Ghost Story is undeniably a new fan favourite. Audiences loved it in London, and were taken along for the ride here in Birmingham. It’s the kind of show one might want to see twice. So, keep your eyes peeled and see if you can figure out how to explain the ghost at 2:22.

Runs until 20 January 2024 and on tour

The Reviews Hub Score

Kitchen sink ghost

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The Central team is under the editorship of Selwyn Knight. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.

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