Dragon Review: The Talented Mr Ripley – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Published on: 19 Feb, 2026
Updated on: 19 Feb, 2026

Bruce Herbelin-Earle as Dickie Greenleaf and Ed McVey as Tom Ripley. Mark Senior

By Ferenc Hepp

We are in 1950s New York and Italy in a very different way this week at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, with The Faction Production of The Talented Mr Ripley, which is currently on a national tour.

Originally written by Patricia Highsmith, it was famously made into a film in 1999, starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law.

This adaptation by Mark Leipacher, who also directs, has a rather unique style. If you expect realism, elaborate elegant sets and a naturalistic telling of a story, then this is not for you.

Bruce Herbelin-Earle with others gave an accomplished performance Mark Senior

The action takes place on and around a small, raised platform, with an exposed lighting rig, and the company in charge of bringing on and taking off minimal number of props, which only hint what the set dressing is supposed to be, as opposed to a realistic representation of any sort of furniture.

Much of the cast take on numerous roles, except for Ed McVey (Prince William in The Crown) as Tom Ripley, Bruce Herbelin-Earle as Dickie Greenleaf and Maisie Smith (Tiffany Butcher in EastEnders) as Marge Sherwood. All three achieve very accomplished performances, especially considering that this is Herbelin-Earle’s professional theatre debut.

However, the focus is very much on McVey as Ripley throughout. His character is a psychopath, mysterious, complex, deceptive and an antihero. McVey maintains this through his journey, despite the chaos that ensues around him.

Ed McVey as Tom Ripley with the cast. Mark Senior

He is a poor young man who is hired by a wealthy industrialist to travel to Italy to persuade his son to return home. Tom becomes obsessed with Dickie’s lavish lifestyle and, after being rejected by him, murders him, steals his identity, and manoeuvres through a web of lies to secure a life of luxury, escaping detection.

There is plenty of symbolism, and the ensemble regularly reflect Ripley’s mood, intentions and thoughts using carefully choreographed and often synchronised movements.

Not only that, but McVey would often step away from the action to narrate and comment on his own story.

There is plenty of symbolism. Mark Senior

The relationship between Ripley and Greenleaf escalates rather quickly and both actors portray this with interesting characterisation and full commitment, whereas Smith as Marge is probably played in the most naturalistic manner and we can clearly see that she is somewhat wary of Ripley’s intentions.

Suitcases become waiters’ trays, a door and a fridge are regularly wheeled on and off, and actors appear from behind and under the stage at random times. The pace significantly slows down after the interval; the second part of the story could be told in much fewer words and less time.

Tom eventually abandons his impersonation of Dickie and states: “I hate being Tom Ripley again. Hate being nobody.”

The company is strong and the portrayals are well-rounded and rich. However, this style will not be everyone’s cup of tea. With a classic tale such as Mr Ripley’s, it would have been more interesting and absorbing to see a classic representation of the story on stage as opposed to what sometimes resembles an experimental university drama project.

There are undoubtedly good aspects, but overall, it tries too hard and doesn’t fully achieve.

The Talented Mr Ripley runs until Saturday, February 21 and tickets are available via
www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk or call 01483 440000.