Bruce Herbelin-Earle is currently deep in rehearsals for the UK tour of The Talented Mr Ripley, playing the role of Dickie Greenleaf in this new stage adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s iconic thriller. Best known for his work on screen and now making a strong impression on stage, Bruce took a moment out of rehearsals to chat to us about his approach to the role, life on tour, and what’s next in his already impressive career.
Q1.Bruce you’re playing Dickie Greenleaf in the UK tour of The Talented Mr Ripley —how would you describe the play to someone who’s never seen it?
The story begins in America with a disgruntled father who just wants his son to return home from Italy. Richard Greenleaf (Christopher Bianchi) meets Tom Ripley (Ed McVey) and offers an all-expenses paid trip to Europe with the hopes that Tom can persuade his son, Dickie, to return. As soon as Ripley arrives in Italy, however, things begin to turn sour, and the audience are whisked on a quest filled with deception, infatuation and identity theft. The stage adaptation explores all the psychological avenues that are present in the Novel and expands on those same elements that were missing from the film and series, set amidst the glorious backdrop of a 1950s hot Italian summer.
Q2. Dickie is a fascinating character — charming, privileged, and at the centre of the story’s psychological tension. What’s been your way into understanding and portraying him?
I wasn’t lucky enough to have an older brother growing up, but I instantly imagined being Dickie’s little one. How might I idolise a charming, happy-go-lucky big brother in my life – how would that materialise? He’s easy going, kind, thoughtful and gentle. He’s cool, street smart, tells you not to worry so much and always has your back. My approach started by creating this superhero, then it became about taking his place. He’s a young man with a clean record and big ambitions but felt dissatisfied and suffocated by his American life. Combined with an overwhelming feeling to figure himself out, he and his girlfriend Marge (Maisie Smith) leave it all behind and escape to Italy. He’s lucky, not all of us have the privilege to change our environment and reinvent ourselves at the drop of the hat! With that however, Dickie’s struggle is evident – he carries a deep sense of guilt. Even though his mother, Emily Greenleaf (Leda) is battling leukemia, he refuses to return home. Tom Ripley’s arrival adds another complexity, every time Dickie even looks at Tom, he’s reminded of the life he left behind.
Q3. The play is based on Patricia Highsmith’s classic novel. Did you revisit the book or previous film adaptations when preparing, or did you want to bring your own take to Dickie?
I picked up the book a few days after I was cast to get a good understanding of the Novel’s perspective and an insight into the madness that goes on in Tom’s head. Patricia Highsmith’s Novel does an incredible job of setting up Dickie’s care-free attributes and all of the evidence for it is in the source material. I believe Tom’s observations about Dickie ring true, albeit from a jealous perspective, and I’m using a lot of how Tom sees Dickie as my own. In addition, the adaptation also leans on a version of Dickie that Tom ‘imagines’ so working with Mark and Ed and being aligned on the psychological dynamic of what that will look like has been really interesting for me. There’s a turning point during the performance where Dickie becomes a projection of Tom’s infatuation and is no longer the ‘real’ Dickie. Bringing my own ideas to rehearsals about how we can make it both practical and interesting has been what I’ve had fun with the most.
Q4. You’re currently in rehearsals — how has the process been so far, and what have you discovered about the world of the play or your character that’s surprised you?
We’re about to finish our second week of rehearsals and I feel like I can breathe much easier. I’m someone who locks themselves in their room and studies the text religiously. I work myself up and often overlook that learning lines only a tiny portion of the job. Being my debut theatre gig, I was reminded of all the times I performed throughout school and I realised that the real work for me starts the minute I’m trying it in the space, onstage with the other actors. It feels good to bring ideas to the table, it manifests into a little reward for my self-confinement! The environment that Mark Leipacher has created combined with the lovely talented bunch that I’m acting alongside provides such a sense of safety that all the anxieties I had for the job has dissipated and now I’m eager for us all to present it to audiences.
Q5. The show is heading out on a UK tour — is there a particular venue you’re especially excited to visit?
It’s tough competition between Edinburgh and Brighton. Edinburgh, because of the sheer number of seats we’ll be playing out to each performance and Brighton because it’ll be the venue that’s most local to where I grew up and where most of my family and friends will be coming to watch.
Q6. You’ve worked across both theatre and television — how does your approach change between stage and screen, and do you have a favourite?
I think the sense of play and trying things out remains the same, albeit tailoring your performance to the appropriate medium. I have found that theatre directors can be more experimental where the dynamic requires a touch more imagination; things are generally more expressive in the theatre and I take great joy in exploring those unnaturalistic elements. In my experience, film directors are usually much more specific with what they’re asking for and overcoming the challenge of delivering that well can be extremely validating. These mediums scratch different parts of my brain so for that reason there is not one that I prefer over the other. I hope I can keep doing all of them for as long as possible.
Q7. What was the moment you knew acting was what you wanted to do? Was there a specific show, film, or performance that lit the spark?
My favourite film is School of Rock. I remember watching it for the first time and really wanting to be in Jack Black’s music class. It opened me up to Rock music and performing at the same time and enamoured by Jack’s performance, I started to ask myself questions about how I might be able to do what he does same day.
Q8. The industry can be unpredictable — what’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about staying grounded as a performer?
Always listen to Maman. Mother knows best and tells it how it is. Love you mum x.
Q9.Finally, what’s next for you? Any dream roles, genres, or creative challenges you’d love to take on in the future?
Well, only time will tell! I would like to be involved with The Talented Mr Ripley in a West End capacity, but that’s not my decision to make! For now, I’ll keep focusing on what’s in front of me and should work find its way to me in the form of some kind of CGI motion capture, I wouldn’t be upset!
