*** 3 Stars
“Taught and Oft Gripping! “
Patricia Highsmith’s novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley marked its 70th anniversary this year following its debut in 1955 it would go on to global recognition thanks to the 1999 motion picture adaptation directed by Anthony Minghella starring Matt Damon and Jude Law.
Following the most recent 2024 television adaption for Netflix, the psychological thriller comes to the stage for the first time in a taught and oft gripping production adapted and directed by Mark Leipacher and it makes a stop at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre for a weeklong run to kick off the venue’s autumn programme of plays.
The cast are sublime especially the leads with Ed McVey taking on the title role of Tom Ripley and Bruce Herbelin-Earle as Dickie Greenleaf respectively telling the story of Ripley a Conman who gets in over his head went sent to Italy to induce Greenleaf into returning home to the United States at his father’s requests. Ripley finds deeply hidden emotions rekindled as he swept along by Greenleaf’s playboy lifestyle. Leading to killer consequences as we discover is it ever truly possible to get away with murder and live with the guilt.
McVey and Herbelin-Earle are truly capturing in the roles making use of the many opportunities to break the fourth wall as McVey often Narrates the story as well giving the character of Ripley a multi-dimensional personality. Special mention must also go to Maisie Smith (yes, she has left the angst of Walford and Eastenders far behind) as Marge Sherwood. Marge is Dickie Greenleaf lover but is snared in Ripley’s web of lies as she tries to discover the truth, and Smith gives an impassioned performance. The principal cast are joined by a seven strong ensemble who bring to live the dozens of characters that inhabit the world of Ripley and they do so with incredible talent although there are odd occasions were accents are not what they should be.
Production wise it’s a stripped back affair with Holly Pigott’s set and costume design being clearly influenced by acclaimed west end and Broadway director Jamie Lloyd, with lighting bars exposed and the bulk of the action centred on a raised platform centre stage. Zeynep Kepekli’s lighting design leans into the overall design incredibly well but the moments of blinding light that evokes golden era Hollywood does become jarring due to excessive use.
Max Pappenheim’s sound design should work on paper but on the execution on press night there were major problems with the sound operation. It’s clear the cast are wearing microphones but there not always on when they should be or there popping and banging at will. The sound balance also needs looking at as there is a soundscape in the show, but the balance is off kilter so much, so members of the audience were checking to ensure their mobile phones were off having not realised its the sound within the show before them.
The Talented Mr. Ripley offers an engaging night of drama with polished performances throughout along with a pace that whips along but the technical elements need to match that standard to bring the show up to the four star that’s clearly with in it.
Have you felt like someone was watching you? well check out The Talented Mr. Ripley to see a chilling reflection of that often-Macabre feeling.
The Talented Mr. Ripley, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh The production runs until Saturday 20th September then the UK tour continues, for more info go to: https://www.capitaltheatres.com/shows/the-talented-mr-ripley/
ScotsGay Arts 