S2 Ep1398: Vidar Hjardeng MBE - The Talented Mr Ripley, AD Theatre Review

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the channel Islands for the next of his regular audio described theatre reviews.This time we step into a world of deception, desire, and deadly ambition with ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description by Professional Audio describer Carolyn Smith.About ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’“I never wanted to murder anyone. It was necessary.”Tom Ripley is a nobody – scraping by in New York, forging signatures, telling little white lies – until a chance encounter changes everything. When a wealthy stranger offers him an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy to bring home his wayward son, Dickie Greenleaf, Tom leaps at the opportunity. But in the sun-drenched glamour of 1950s Italy, surrounded by shimmering waters and whispered secrets, Tom is seduced by the life Dickie leads – the freedom, the wealth, the effortless charm. Fascination turns to obsession, and as his grip tightens on Dickie’s world, the lines between truth and deception begin to blur. What starts as an innocent opportunity spirals into a chilling game of lies, identity theft, and murder.In Mark Leipacher's new adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley, Patricia Highsmith's classic novel is reimagined for the stage in thrilling fashion! Originally published in 1955, the novel won the Grand Prix de Littrature Policire in 1957 and was named in 2019 on the BBC's list of the 100 most inspiring novels. Spawning movie adaptations, radio versions and TV spin-offs, don't miss its brilliant transition to stage this year!What is the story?From the smoky jazz bars of Manhattan to the golden coastlines of Italy in the 50s, the psychological thriller follows Tom Ripley, a nobody desperate to be somebody, slipping deeper and deeper into a labyrinth of lies, until the consequences of his choices begin to close in.The ten-strong ensemble cast is led by Ed McVey as Tom Ripley. Ed was one of the stars of The Crown. Bruce Herbelin-Earle from Netflix’s Free Rein is Dickie Greenleaf and EastEnders regular and Strictly Come Dancing finalist Maisie Smith stars as Marge Sherwood.For more about the tour of ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ along with dates and times of performances do visit - https://thetalentedmrripleyplay.com(Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font)