Emus On Stage

Sydney Theatre Companies ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ by Patricia Highsmith was an amusing play suitable to entertain everyone. Being familiar with director Sarah Goodes incredible work, ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ is definitely to be placed near the top of her most notable plays. The piece didn’t try too hard to be something it wasn’t, while also maintaining a complex level of artistic creativity. 

The stage was simply laid out. The only fixed feature was a wall up stage with a multipurpose door in the centre. The most notable use of the door, aside from an entrance, was as a cupboard. Goodes cleverly transformed the space of a door into Richard Greene’s built-in wardrobe. Moving the cupboard into the wall allowed warm lights to highlight the clothes in the cupboard without being seen by the audience. Interesting moments like this occurred throughout the play, allowing a glimpse into the world of how Tom Ripley viewed Richard Greene.

The scene flowed one into another with the help of stage hands moving set pieces and props in and out of the stage. Key elements told us which location we were in. A dance of beach umbrellas were choreographed first introducing us to the beach in Italy. Picket fences we pulled from the wings to show Greene’s house. Coats, newspapers and drinks were cleverly placed in actors hands, and notably a yellow boat was rigged and suspended down. The transitions became an equally entertaining feature alongside the storyline. 

With such a relaxed unfixable set, the lighting became a central figure in telling the story. The lights gave an amalgamation of location, atmosphere and mood. Ripples of light gave the illusion of water, warm sharp light told the story of a window on warm day and hazy green lights emphasised Ripley’s complex jealousy. The lighting was cleverly positioned to actors’ pathways and allowed separate ideas to coexist. 

The actors had a fabulous understanding of the nuanced moments that made their characters. Will McDonald playing Ripley had an amazing grasp of the differences between Ripley being himself, a quirky and socially awkward person, and Ripley playing Greene, a confident and assertive human. McDonald’s ability to hold the pacing of the show is also to be commended. Raj Labade playing Richard Greene fantastically danced the line between a free, young and charismatic man and a rich, cocky tool. Labade’s interpretation of Greene was an honest portrayal of how we imagine a trust fund adult with a desire to create his own path in life behaves. Claude Scott-Micheal being the only woman in an almost all female cast, amaxingly but unsurprisingly held up to creating an intelligent and strong willed woman. Playing Marge, she was true to the femininity of the 1960’s while also being firmly assertive. Jonny Nasser and Andrew McFarlene were also amazingly engaging to watch. Nasser taking on Freddie Miles, created a skeptical but full of life character and McFarlene held the weight of a caring but insistent dad. 

RATING

Overall, from a fabulously written script to the creative interpretation of Goodes, the simplicity of each element fused together created a complexly entertaining piece to watch. Everyone over 16, whether or not they appreciate theatre, would find this to be a good watch. 

Performers Skill 4.5 / 5

Stage and Atmosphere 4.5 / 5

Value for Money PAID $52  5 / 5

Entertainment value 4.5 / 5

BONUS POINTS

Do I still think about it 3 days later +1

19.5 / 20