Live version of The Talented Mr Ripley kills on stage

Luckily, the famously misanthropic Highsmith never gets boring.

"There's something about the forensic nature of psychological inquiry in her writing, there are various iterations of darkness, and I'm attracted to that world," said Murray-Smith.

Her stage adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley, directed by Sarah Goodes, premiered with the Sydney Theatre Company in August and is on at the Arts Centre Melbourne Playhouse during November.

Will McDonald (Netflix's Heartbreak High) stars as hustler Tom Ripley, with Roman Delo (Stan's Bump) as the stylish heir Dickie Greenleaf.

The deceptive and deadly Tom Ripley was fun to play but complicated, said McDonald.

"It's the hardest and scariest thing I've ever done. It's exhilarating and terrifying and really satisfying all at the same time," he said.

Despite its popularity on screen, rarely has the famous suspense novel been adapted for theatre.

Highsmith's 1955 novel has inspired various screen versions over decades, including the 1999 hit film with its all-star cast of Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett.

More recently there's the 2024 Netflix series starring Andrew Scott. McDonald consumed these and more while preparing for the role.

Murray-Smith didn't ask permission to write her first Highsmith play, Switzerland, the story of a young man from a New York publishing firm, who is sent to persuade the author to write one last Ripley instalment.

The playwright also penned a screen adaptation which is currently being shot in Europe starring Helen Mirren.

Writing Switzerland helped greatly when Murray-Smith met the representatives of the Highsmith estate to ask permission to adapt Ripley for the stage.

"They knew how much I knew about her and they trusted me, so they were happy to let me adapt it," said Murray-Smith.

All those screen productions meant an added element of anxiety for the playwright, who wanted to get it right not only for the audience but for Highsmith herself.

The Talented Mr Ripley is the fifth STC production to tour to Arts Centre Melbourne in recent years, including Murray-Smith and Goodes' previous collaboration, Julia.

The Talented Mr Ripley plays at Arts Centre Melbourne until November 23.

Australian Associated Press