The Talented Mr Ripley- Oxford Playhouse 13/10/25 adapted and directed by Mark Leipacher

“Do you ever have the feeling you’re being watched?”

This line is repeated several time in the play, addressing the audience, by ante hero Tom Ripley.

This play is based on Patricia Highsmith’s classic 1955 novel.  It features obsession, murder and identity theft, and a game of cat and mouse, as Tom hops around Europe.

Ed McVey is fantastic as Ripley, captivating and he keeps the whole thing together. His lightning asides in which Ripley confides that the line he just spoke was a lie or delivers a subtext, such as “Boring!”, are extremely well delivered.

McVey follows Alain Delon, Matt Damon, John Malkovich and Andrew Scott into the shoes that Ripley steals from his first victim, and we see the developing obsessions and sociopath that he becomes.

Rarely offstage, McVey is magnetic. His ability to mimic and morph into someone else, is very well played.

Mark Leipacher, adapter-director has introduced a device whereby Ripley is playing himself in a movie, with the shady background figures shouting “Cut!” and demanding retakes when they sense he is improvising or lying. This is a bit inconsistent, but nonetheless is an interesting take on the story.

As Ripley’s target, Dickie Greenleaf, Bruce Herbelin-Earle achieves the difficult task of playing the rich dull shipping magnate’s son, who is also the man that Ripley wants to take over, both his life and his money. It could be a bit of a thankless role. But with Leipacher’s direction, and elements of physical theatre, it is played very effectively.

Also giving a very striking performance is Maisie Smith as love interest Marge. Maisie is an actor who has grown up in the public eye on Eastenders, but in this role and production, she completely inhabits gentle well spoken Marge, and shows that she is no afraid of taking on a challenge in this production. Hers is a refreshing performance.

Visually, the staging with Holly Piggott’s set design is minimalist but very effective, and the lighting design by Zeynep Kepekli is striking with neon strips of changing colours to invoke locations and moods.

This is a very clever production, and we are lucky that the Oxford Playhouse continues to attract touring productions of this calibre.

Remember that the Playhouse has a variety of ways that we can support it. Obviously by attending the theatre. But also, sponsorship opportunities, hospitality opportunities, and ways of supporting those who might not easily access the arts including children and young people. We are so lucky to have them on our doorstep!