The Sydney Theatre Company, this school holidays, have on the latest production in their Actor on a Box series, ‘The Red and White Spotted Handkerchief ‘, suitable for kids 3 years and up. The play is from the book by Tony Milton, and adopted for the stage by Matthew Whittet and Naomi Edwards. Whittet performs the piece with Naomi Edwards directing.

This was attractive and well put together school holiday entertainment! The setting was warm and inviting. The audience walked into the lovely Richard Wherrett Studio at the Sydney theatre to be greeted by a very playful and whimsical Matthew Whittet as a young boy sitting up in bed.

All the kids dived onto a large array of cushions scattered on the floor. The big kids, the adults, sat on small benches behind them. Circling and cordoning off the theatre area were flowing draped curtains

The show begins with Whittet starting on a bedtime story, the twist being that is a story of his own creation. The story sees Whittet as Jack wrap his last piece of bread in the red and white handkerchief of the title and go off on an adventure where he comes across mermaids, dragons, magic keys, genies and more. Whittet gets the kids involved and gets some interesting responses! The show ends with Jack’s adventure coming to an end, and Jack turning out the light and going to sleep.

Whittet jumped out of bed to deservedly receive the audience’s warm applause.

This was a cute show all round. ‘The Red and White Spotted Handkerchief’ plays the Richard Wherrett Studio at the Sydney Theatre until Saturday October 2, 2010.