2:22 – A Ghost Story – 3Olympia Theatre – Review
Dates: Thu 20th Jun 2024 – Sun 11th Aug 2024

Photos by Helen Murray

Ben (Colin O’Donoghue) and Jenny (Shona McGarty) are a young couple who have recently bought their first home. The house was previously owned by an old couple who lived there for many years, but after her husband died the widow decided to sell. The young couple have carried out a series of renovations to the house and are starting to make it their own. When we meet Ben and Jenny, they are having a dinner party with their old college friend Lauren (Laura Whitmore) and her new boyfriend Ben (Jay McGuiness). Jenny is in an agitated state. She has spent the last few days alone in the house as Ben has been away with work. During her nights alone, there have been several mysterious happenings in the house and she suspects it is haunted! The worst of the events took place at 2.22 AM each night. After much discussion, the four friends decide to stay up and see what happens!

The play is a thriller written by Danny Robins. Danny is known for the TV show Uncanny on BBC Two, but he has also worked on Radio with productions such as The Battersea Poltergeist (2021) and The Witch Farm in 2022. The first production of 2.22 was at the Noël Coward Theatre, London in 2021 and starred Lily Allen as Jenny. The production won several WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Play and Best Actress for Allen. It also received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play. This production is billed as a ‘Very Special, Standalone Irish Production” and includes several familiar names such as Shona McGarty (Eastenders), Laura Whitmore (Love Island) and Jay McGuiness (The Wanted).

The play focuses on the four characters and their belief in the supernatural. Ben is a scientist working in academia and believes everything can be explained through science. The other three believe in the supernatural to varying degrees and each has their story to tell. Ben does his best to give a scientific answer to all the unexplained happenings, but as the night progresses he struggles to come up with a logical explanation.

The set for the play is the kitchen/ sitting room of the home. It is a combination of the old and the new, with the light-filled extension, along with the tired wallpaper of the sitting room! It’s an impressive space and Set Designer Anna Fleischle has done superb work.

The play uses a variety of techniques to keep the audience on edge, from scary sounds and music to the blood-curdling screams, blamed on the foxes who live in their garden! Another unusual aspect is the modern music that booms on scene changes and creates a boisterous mood in the audience. There is much chatter between scenes and it feels quite a different experience from many plays that are quiet and more cerebral.  As with many similar productions, there is much weight on the explanation at the end and in this case, it is clever and well thought out. After watching it, you can see the foreshadowing and hints you are given throughout the piece, with many claiming afterwards they’d guessed correctly! The play is a great yarn that keeps the audience guessing throughout and is constantly entertaining.

2:22 A Ghost Story by Danny Robins
Directed by Matthew Dunster and Isabel Marr
Cast: Shona McGarty, Jay McGuiness, Colin O’Donoghue & Laura Whitmore
Co Directed by Matthew Dunster and Isabel Marr
Set Design by Anna Fleischle
Lighting Design by Lucy Carter
Costume Designer: Cindy Lin
Sound Design by Ian Dickson for Autograph
Casting Director: Jessica Ronane
Illisions: Chris Fisher
Vocal Coach: Hazel Holder
Assistant Director: Robyn Grant
Casting Director: Matilda James
Production Photographer: Helen Murray

Runaway Entertainment ;Dublin 3Olympia Theatre ;Dublin, Ireland ;20 June 2024 ;Credit & copyright: Helen Murraywww.helenmurrayphotos.com