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2:22 A Ghost Story Review 4 - Greasepaint and Stage Lights - Theatre Radio Show

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2:22 A Ghost Story Review 4

2:22 - A Ghost Story (UK Tour)
Milton Keynes
(Review Complete)
"A scary ghost story with a Clever ending"

Me and the supernatural don’t get on, but a ghost story in Milton Keynes is hard to resist, considering all the hype. 2:22 is billed as a Ghost Story, a four hander, starring husband and wife Stacey Dooley (Jenny), Kevin Clifton (Sam), Shvorne Marks (Lauren) and Grant Kilburn (Ben)



 
So here is the story as we know it. A couple have just moved into an old house that is full of history and Sam (Kevin Clifton) and his wife Jenny (Stacey Dooley) have been making some adjustments, new patio doors, stripping walls and general renovations, so the house is looking as most houses midway between moving in and finishing it to how you want it.



 
The house belonged to an elderly lady before and her husband (Frank), She was still alive when the house was sold, but her husband had died some years previous. The table was made by her late husband and still remained in the house. Sam has just arrived back from a trip away and has lost his mobile phone while there. So couldn’t contact Jenny. But while he was away Jenny and their new born baby, Yes Jenny and Sam are new parents with all the stresses that that a new baby brings to a relationship. The lack of sleep and tension between husband and wife.



 
While Jenny and their new born were left in the house alone, strange unexplained things happened. Jenny is expressing her concerns to Sam that the house is haunted. She is really scared because for a few nights previous at precisely 2:22am, she heard the sound of someone moving around the house. More precisely in their daughter’s room, footsteps in a circle and crying sounds. Sam a ‘non-believer’ in Ghosts, keeps expressing a more logical explanation for these noises and challenges Jenny all the time over her claims. Upon Sam’s return the couple are to host a party for Lauren (Shvourne Marks), an old ‘close’ university friend of Sam’s, and Ben (Grant Kilburn) her partner, who happens to believe in the supernatural. Jenny talks to these two about her encounters, with Sam butting in with a logical reason for all she claims as much as he can.

 
The four of them decide to wait until 2:22am to hear and see for themselves what really happens and whether Sam is correct in his logical explanations or Jenny is really experiences a ghost!
 
As we took our seats for the beginning of the play, continuous looping music fills the auditorium. Two digital clock one over the door to the living room and one on top of the fridge in the open diner races away. I was waiting for the 2:22 to arrive and then I was sure the play would start. But that soon passed as it raced past 2:22 several times.



Talking of the set, designed by Anna Fleischle and reading the programme about how many layers of wallpaper line a typical wall in a room in a house and how over the years and each layer could tell a story about previous owners, A PIR light switches on outside the patio doors and often screaming Foxes add to the atmosphere. A chilly evening appears outside, foggy mist floats about as Ben goes out for a cigarette. Along with occasional thunder and lightning all adds to the spooky atmosphere.  The unique way in which scenes are changed keeps us on our toes and ripples of relief, as a scene ends and we gear ourselves up for the next and slowly we edge closer to 2:22!

The two digital clocks tick away during each scene change and we sit in anticipation as we head towards 2:22am, Very simple, but clever as we are frantically trying to work out what is happening and when will a ghost appear if there is such a thing!
 
The second half leads us further along to a conclusion and towards 2:22am. More exchanges between characters and the declaration that Ben is a spiritualist and has the ‘gift’.

But this is where we stop. The ending is so good, the twist at the end will spark conversations on the journey home. Danny Robins, has written a clever play. Engaging and edge of seat suspense. But leaves you with a warm, sympathetic feeling and not one of being scared out of your mind.



Stacey Dooley delivered her lines with belief, confidence and put on a well-rounded, “Like she had done it for years” performance, She just fitted in. An old pro as were the rest of the cast. A special mention to Grant Kilburn, who’s comic timing was spot on and the stating of the obvious, had me in stitches. How the cast managed not to corpse (Excuse the pun) was beyond me. He delivered some funny comments, that broke up the suspense and allows us to relax if only momentarily.


 
 
This is as far as I can go. The ending is brilliant. After the play, you leave the theatre not scared, but with empathy and lots of “Oh that’s why that happened”, as you relive each scene and dialogue from the show. Brilliantly cast and the set filled the large auditorium.

2:22 A Ghost Story is a must see. Please don’t be put off by the ghost story if you are squeamish. I don’t like ghost stories and there were times during the play, I thought why am I putting myself through this suspense. But you must see it to the conclusion. Go along and you too can join in a lengthy conversation with others that you meet, who have seen. 2:22 a Ghost story.

  • Milton Keynes Theatre, Mon 15 Sep – Sat 20 Sep 2025
  • Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 29 Sep – Sat 4 Oct 2025
  • Theatre Royal Brighton, Mon 6 Oct – Sat 11 Oct 2025
  • The Alexandra, Birmingham, Mon 13 Oct – Sat 18 Oct 2025
  • Richmond Theatre, Mon 2 Feb – Sat 7 Feb 2026
  • New Theatre Oxford, Mon 23 Feb – Sat 28 Feb 2026
  • New Victoria Theatre, Woking, Mon 16 Mar – Sat 21 Mar 2026
  • Grand Opera House York, Mon 30 Mar – Sat 4 Apr 2026
  • Liverpool Empire, Mon 6 Apr – Sat 11 Apr 2026
  • Edinburgh Playhouse, Mon 25 May – Sat 30 May 2026
  • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Mon 8 Jun – Sat 13 Jun 2026
 
Reviewer: Mark Bilsby

Photography: Helen Murray

We are Gifted tickets so that in return we may give an honest review. All comments are those of the reviewer and theirs alone.

Greasepaint and Stage Lights

Email: musicals@btinternet.com
website: www.greasepaintandstagelights.co.uk
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