Have you ever had the feeling that you’re being watched or followed?
A story of love, crime and deception that has captivated audiences for decades, Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr Ripley has seen many screen adaptations over the years, and returns in a striking new stage production. This new adaptation offers a creative exploration of Ripley’s complex mind, using effective yet simple staging to capture the story’s tense and slow-building suspense.
The costume design stands out, thoughtfully nodding to earlier adaptations while capturing the effortless style of the 1950s. The blend of American preppy tailoring with relaxed Italian holiday wear feels both authentic and visually appealing. Marge’s outfit, high-waisted shorts paired with a tucked-in blouse and softly styled hair, is especially charming, balancing youthful innocence with subtle elegance.
The minimalist stage, a large raised white square with a hollow centre, becomes a dynamic space for transitions, disappearances and unexpected entrances. Whether it’s police officers suddenly emerging to heighten Ripley’s paranoia or Dickie appearing behind Tom, the staging adds intriguing visual layers that deepen the play’s psychological tension. Despite the stripped-back set, the gentle rocking of a boat is vividly suggested through shifting white blocks, while the sudden flutter of white masks as pigeons taking flight in Venice adds a playful burst of movement that momentarily lifts the tension of Ripley’s unraveling.
One of the most memorable parts of the production is its clever use of director-style cuts: scenes suddenly paused, rewinded and replayed with subtle or dramatic changes, as if seen through Ripley’s restless imagination. What could have felt like a gimmick turns out to be one of the show’s most refreshing touches, giving the story a playful energy and a rhythm all its own.
A key highlight of the production is the talented ensemble that rounds out the cast with convincing performances. At the centre of the performance is Ed McVey who absolutely owns the role of Tom Ripley. With barely a moment offstage, he slides effortlessly between charm and menace, between Tom and Dickie, that’s all the more impressive given the nearly nonstop dialogue. Bruce Herbelin-Earle brings just the right mix of charm and swagger to Dickie Greenleaf, making Ripley’s obsession feel believable. Meanwhile, Maisie Smith’s Marge offers a sincere portrayal, her growing suspicion developing naturally captures the creeping unease at the heart of The Talented Mr Ripley.
Seventy years after Highsmith’s novel first gripped readers, this production arrives with a renewed relevance. In an era defined by social media’s relentless pressure to perform and curate identity, Ripley’s obsessive reinvention resonates more powerfully than ever. The play deftly explores contemporary anxieties around truth, surveillance and self-presentation, lending a compelling immediacy to this timeless story.