Ed McVey delivers a powerhouse performance as Tom Riply in The Talented Mr Ripley. Image - courtesy of Mark Senior
There can be no better way to bring up the curtain on Granite Noir, Aberdeen’s excellent crime writing festival, than this thrilling stage version of The Talented Mr Ripley.
A twisting, turning, mesmering work it gripped the audience at His Majesty’s Theatre from the get-go at its opening night as Patricia Highsmith’s iconic anti-hero was brought to glorious – and awful - life.
The disturbed and disturbing Tom Ripley and his charming, manipulative and serial killer ways, has been part of the cultural psyche since Highsmith created him for her 1955 novel – The Talented Mr Ripley.
Another four novels followed, along with countless film and television adaptations.
But you don’t need to have read any of the books or seen any of the shows to dive into this stunning touring stage version.
Bruce Herbelin-Earle and Ed McVey in a compelling scene from The Talented Mr Ripley, now on at His Majesty's Theatre. Image - courtesy of Mark Senior
In fact, it’s a pleasure to watch the birth of Ripley from his first faltering steps as an insecure nobody and accountant on the run for “mathematical errors”, as he morphs into a cold-blooded killer with a talent for lying, forging, and impersonation. That plus his insatiable desire to steal the identity of the wealthy and carefree Dickie Greenleaf and his life of luxury in the south of Italy, no matter what – or how bloody – the cost.
A huge part of that pleasure lies in the compelling performance of Ed McVey as Ripley. It is an astounding piece of work with Ed never off the stage and carrying the vast bulk of the dialogue, be it his slippery conversations with those he moves around like pieces on a chess board, or his interior monologues as he is plagued by insecurity, doubts and fears.
Ed shifts so casually between Ripley as himself and Ripley as the faux Dickie Greenleaf it is easy to underestimate just how much skill goes into changing voice, posture and mannerism in the blink of an eye and even mid-sentence.
The staging of The Talented Mr Riley helps drive the thrilling story along. Image - courtesy of Mark Senior
Ripley’s inner life is essayed with some fantastic theatrical touches, such as the “figures” on stage who act as a Greek chorus for the murderer’s inner thoughts and fears.
That is amplified by a set that’s deceptively simple – all scaffold and lights and a centrepiece platform that doubles as locations, from Roman apartments to Italian beaches. At one point a couple of white boards and some subtle orange lighting transport you to the white sails of a yacht, elegantly traversing the Bay of Naples at sunset.
While Ed is at the beating – and bloody - heart of The Talented Mr Ripley, he is more than matched by his co-stars and the ensemble cast.
Bruce Herbelin-Earle is a suave Dickie Greenleaf, all easy charm and languorous entitlement. Maisie Smith is outstanding as Marge Sherwood, the third part of this not-quite-love triangle, who almost, but doesn’t, sees through Ripley’s guise.
Maisie Smith as Marge Sherwood, and Bruce Herbelin-Earle as Dicke Greenleaf in The Talented Mr Ripley. Image - courtesy of Mark Senior
But then, no one does. Even when you think there’s no way he’s getting out of this, he does. And that is part of the delight of Highsmith’s creation. He is a chilling psychopath, but with enough charm and depth you actually end up rooting for him.
The Talented Mr Ripley starts and ends with the same line: “Have you ever had the feeling you are being watched?”.
Well, the audience of His Majesty’s Theatre couldn’t take their eyes of Ripley for a moment.
And if this is an amuse-bouche for the rest of Granite Noir when it arrives from February 17 to 22, then we are in for a dark and delicious treat indeed.
The Talented Mr Ripley runs at His Majesty’s Theatre until Saturday, February 14. Find out more and book your tickets via Aberdeen Performing Arts.
The full Granite Noir programme can be viewed on Aberdeen Performing Arts website.
Review by Scott Begbie