Tom Johnston watches the clock as popular tale of the unexpected returns to Milton Keynes.
I had been looking forward to seeing this play because it’s got suspense and scares (which I like), it has had a successful series of runs so far with an ever-changing cast, and because it’s one of those productions that gets people talking.
There’s an aura of intrigue too as audiences are asked not to reveal the ending to others who haven’t seen it.
The storyline is simple enough – two couples get together for some dinner and an evening together in one of their newly-purchased homes, which needs renovation.
But when young mum Jenny (Stacey Dooley) says she has been experiencing strange goings-on in the baby’s bedroom in the middle of the night, they decide to stay up until the early hours – 2.22am to be precise – to find out if there’s a ghost about.
There’s plenty of what young couples do – a few drinks, some chat, a bit of flirting, some male bravado between Sam (former dancer and now actor Kevin Clifton) and Ben (brilliant Grant Kilburn) and a good helping of humour.
It’s all building slowly towards the tense ending. Tick tock, tick tock. You are helped by a rather obvious digital clock above the door to the stairs which you can’t help watching as it moves ever closer to 2.22.
What’s going to happen when we get there? Lauren (Shvorne Marks) is a former uni-friend and has a secret while Ben is new to the scene and we don’t know much about him. But he too, has a story to tell. Are they all they seem? The house’s previous owner is dead. Hmmm…
The pacy Danny Robins script unfolds and there are clues along the way, and you start to come to your own conclusions about what’s going to happen. Your train of thought is interrupted, of course, with some neat little jumps and scares. Well, it wouldn’t be a ghost story without a few of those would it?
There’s ultimately a smart and satisfying ending and as I left the theatre, I could see other audience members chatting and nodding, trying to make it all fit. It does though, beautifully. Shall I tell you what happens?
Not a ghost of a chance…
2:22 A Ghost Story is at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 20th September.
Tickets: ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes
