Melbourne is such a forgiving place for Australian productions to be premiered.
The local media reviewers are generally kind, often too kind. It is a traditional Melbourne thing, to encourage theatre producers.
Opening night audience membersof 2:22 A Ghost Story were offered complimentary flutes of Chandon champagne as they milled outside Her Majesty’s Theatre in Exhibition St last Friday night (July 28).
We didn’t partake; but maybe we should have had a few belts to help us through the next 2.22 hours.
One fellow media reviewer texted us through the show that he thought it was a “shocker”.
Perhaps our view was coloured that the publicists sat us in row X, behind that dreaded pillar that obscures the view of the stage.
(To be fair, we had asked for a seat on the aisle to help with access. The tickets were gratis. But no audience member should have to watch a show from behind a pillar.)
2:22 A Ghost Story has had the script reworked to be in Melbourne, with two couples having a Friday night dinner party.
Jenny (Gemma Ward) is a new mum, concerned about worrying noises in the house.
She persuades her dinner guests Lauren (Ruby Rose) and Ben (Daniel MacPherson) to stay up until 2.22am to witness the hauntings.
Jenny’s husband Sam (Remy Hii) is cynical, and repeats that point as the slow-moving script calls for conversation.
Ruby Rose and Daniel McPher-son do their best to add what they can to puff life into a largely predictable script. Their roles call for them to hit the wine and the Jack Daniels to make the chatter flow. Perhaps they should have passed the bottle around the audience.
It is not the often-contrived script, but it is the lighting and audio special effects that cause any scares and jumps.
The woman in row Y, immediately behind me, unexpectedly kicked my seat in fright and let out a bit of a scream at one of the flashing lights moments.
It is not a ‘horror’ show. There is no gore or gruesome aspects. A thriller needs to be unpredictable.
The show does rev up in the final five minutes of the second half.
Two additional members of the cast (Ayeesha Ash and Jack Van Staveren) make brief but important appearances. They spend just as much time on stage for the curtain call.
The show does provide a handful of laughs, and a twist or two.
The show’s publicity material describes 2:22 A Ghost Story as a “nail-biter”. All our 10 nails were thoroughly intact as we left the theatre.
The audience seemed to comprise a significant rainbow contingent, with a personal following for Ruby Rose and her body art. Daniel MacPherson’s media and theatre profile will not hurt the box office.
We found Gemma Ward to give a performance consistent with someone at the start of their career.
Remy Hii’s script did not allow him to be as lively as he otherwise might be.
2:22 has had runs in London’s West End and Los Angeles.
The show is scheduled for a four-week run at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Don’t fret if you don’t get to see it, you’ll live.
Audience members are flashed with the request: “Shhh! Please Don’t Tell.” Sadly, from what we gathered from the after-show Her Maj foyer comments, they are unlikely to say very much at all to the friends about this show.

• Review by Ash Long