Theatre Review: 2.22 A Ghost Story

 The Play: 2.22 - A Ghost Story

The Theatre: Her Majesty's Theatre, Exhibition Street

Until 20 August

4 Stars (with some reservations)

We went to see this on a whim. With the offerings around the traps at the moment, it was the only thing that appealed. A ghost story! Terrifying! Electric! Lots of blurbs with exclamation marks after them. Normally a warning sign for me but given time and budget constraints being a time poor single mum and her arty fart friend who sees most things, and knowing this was in preview, we decided to give this a go. 

I'll preface this review by saying we saw this in the preview period, and there's some things which need to be ironed out, but otherwise, this was a decent two hours of solid entertainment. 

I also have to preface this by saying that somehow we tuned up on the media night where every D-List celebrity and their rented Birkin bag was out in force. There were lots of pretty people floating about the place, dosing up on the complimentary cheap champagne before the show. We saw Anthony La Paglia, who's in town rehearsing for Death of a Salesman and Eddie Perfect. The other people looked like they thought we should know them. We didn't. We're middle aged Gen-Xers . We don't care. Taking our glass of pilfered free poo, we made our way to our seats in the nosebleed section. 

So, what's this about? 

The script has been Melbournised. 

Jenny (Gemma Ward) and Sam (Remy Hii) two upwardly mobile new parents have bought a house in the inner North for what seems to be a steal. The nonna who owned the house before them asked them to look after the place. Being inner Northern yuppy types, of course the did the place out, replacing the font nook with a coffee bar, ripping out the wall for glass windows. you know the drill. 

When Sam goes away for a work trip leaving Jenny on her own, strange things start happening in their daughters room. Footsteps, noises. All of these happen at 2.22 a.m. Jenny is scared shitless. They bring their old friend Lauren (Ruby Rose) and her new man, Dan (Daniel McPherson) to have a dinner party and try to get to the bottom of things. 

I will no say any more on the plot. There is a big sign saying "Don't tell the secret". So I won't. 

Needless to say, I clocked onto what was really happening about ten minutes into the second act. 

This is a solid play and very entertaining. Neither Gemma Ward or Ruby Rose are known for their stage work, but they are good. Remy Hii is NIDA trained, and this shows through. Daniel McPherson was relatable as the cashed-up bogan tradie who they let know is not good enough for the refined Lauren. 

There are some pretty cool effects too. 

In all, this is a solid night of entertainment. The two hour run time makes it not too long or short and you are on the edge of your seat for a bit of the show. Is it terrifying? No. Is it electrifying? In places. As somebody who doesn't like being scared, I was fine. 

What I will say is that if you're triggered by noise, you might want to have your dimmer earplugs available. I'll say no more than this, but it does get a bit loud in places. 

This is worth a view. 

Today's song: