The Talented Will McDonald: The Heartbreak High Star Is Mr. Ripley in a Gripping New Stage Play

Stepping into the titular role of the The Talented Mr. Ripley , Will McDonald has some big shoes to fill – but the Heartbreak High actor is more than up for the challenge. Over the last six decades, the infamous antihero has been played on screen by the likes of Matt Damon, Andrew Scott and Alain Delon. Now, McDonald steps into the role for a brand-new adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s classic novel, coming to Arts Centre Melbourne.

Written by acclaimed Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith and directed by Sarah Goodes, the Sydney Theatre Company production opened to critical acclaim in Sydney in August. Critics praised McDonald in particular for the confidence, charisma and complexity he infused into his take on the literary con man. When Broadsheet speaks with the young actor, it’s the final week of the Sydney run, and he’s feeling the love.

“The reception here in Sydney has been really, really lovely,” he says. “I think for the most part, people have really taken to the show, which is always a blessing when you’re doing something that’s an established IP.”

Having grown up in Sydney, McDonald says debuting the show in his home city has been extra special. But as the Sydney season wraps up, he’s ready to share it with a Melbourne audience. “Melbourne is such a fantastic city, I love the people down there,” he says. “It’s a city that has a real appreciation and devotion to the arts, so I’m very, very excited for the people to see it down there.”

McDonald plays Tom Ripley, an orphan and con artist trying to make ends meet in 1950s New York. When he’s sent to Italy to convince rich heir Dickie Greenleaf to return home, Ripley’s fascination for the spoiled playboy’s luxury and hedonism soon turns into obsession. Seduced by Greenleaf’s lifestyle, Ripley realises he’ll do anything to have it for himself.

The actor first became involved during early readings of the play last September, while it was still being workshopped. “They were just asking if I’d be interested in coming in and reading the part, because they were in development for the script. Joanna, the writer, really wanted to hear a bunch of actors sit around the table and read it out loud for the first time.”

About a month later, he was offered the role without having to formally audition. Prior to rehearsals, his preparation was extensive, with Goodes giving McDonald a list of classic literature to read, such as Albert Camus’s The Stranger and F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The director also suggested several films to watch, including Wes Anderson’s work, the original West Side Story and The Third Man , starring Orson Welles.

The most immersive part of McDonald’s preparation, however, was the six weeks he spent in Italy with his girlfriend, a month before rehearsals began. “I think I’ll have to go on a holiday somewhere before all of my roles now,” he jokes. “We were going to a lot of the places that Tom goes to in the play … trying to just immerse ourselves in the world of it as much as possible.”

The Talented Mr. Ripley is the fifth STC production to take the stage at Arts Centre Melbourne in recent years, with Joanna Murray-Smith and Sarah Goodes’ previous collaboration, Julia – a portrayal of Julia Gillard’s 2012 speech – having shown at the Playhouse over June and July.

Joining McDonald onstage are some of Australia’s top talent, including Roman Delo (Stan’s Bump ) as Greenleaf, Claude Scott-Mitchell (Binge’s The Last Anniversary ), Faisal Hamza (ABC’s House of Gods ), Andrew McFarlane (ABC’s The Newsreader ) and Johnny Nasser (Netflix’s Heartbreak High ).

Working with an exceptional cast and crew and immersing himself so deeply in the role has been inspiring for McDonald. But whether he’s playing beloved eshay Ca$h on Heartbreak High or the iconic Ripley live onstage, his focus is always on finding the authenticity within his character.

“There’s this great quote from Denzel Washington that I love, where he says, ‘It doesn’t matter if the camera’s right in front of your face or if people are 30 feet back in the last row, the truth is the truth. ’ I apply the same process and then just do my best to work with whatever director I’m with,” he says.

“But I’m really lucky working with Sarah Goodes, she’s just fantastic, and she made my job very, very easy. So did the whole cast. They’re all brilliant.”

The Talented Mr. Ripley is showing at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse theatre from October 28 to November 23. More information and tickets can be found at artscentremelbourne.com.

Broadsheet is a proud media partner of Arts Centre Melbourne.