“Almost every forest has a secret…” The secret in this forest is that it is the home of the Little Red Things. A little red thing is a small creature born when someone is entertained, the creatures disappear into the clouds and when it rains in this forest, which it does every day, the little red things come down and are collected and distributed to people. Every time you have an idea, burst into song or spontaneously tell a story, you have been visited by a little red thing, you might not see it, but it’s there.

The people who have the task of collecting and distributing the creatures are Mother and her two daughters, as the daughters grow up they find their own ways of catching the little red things and become competitive. Eventually one sister stops giving away the creatures and keeps them all for herself trying to discover their secret. But when people stop getting little red things, no new little red things are created and the world becomes a sad uninspiring place. The good sister must make evil sister see sense.

This was a delightful piece of theatrical storytelling. The cast of five are all on stage all the time, not just playing the main characters but creating set with cargo nets and boxes and occasionally themselves. They also operate the little red things themselves, small handheld puppets (be warned you will want to take one home). A pianist is also on stage at all times, playing a constant original score, parts of which I have been humming ever since. The only disappointment with this lovely story is the end. The company, who devised the show themselves, clearly came up with an epic which they have had to cut back on, always a painful process, and sadly the ending, when evil sister sees the error of her ways, is rushed and, not as strongly narrated as the rest of the show leaving the audience wondering if they have understood correctly. But please do not let that put you off, the show is visually stunning and takes you back to your childhood, hearing a fairytale for the first time. When the show was over the audience did not do the usual spring to the feet and go, instead we all lingered for a moment, wanted to stay in the world of this magical forest for as long as possible. The lady behind me said “that was so sweet” the man beside me turned to his friend and said he felt “all warm and fuzzy”. A show and story that will stay with you long after you leave the theatre and wishing for rain. Delightful

Bedlam Theatre, Forrest Road
Aug 7 - 26 18.15