Wizardry or showmanship, suggestion, hypnosis, some version of EMDR therapy, high- tech intelligence gathering or old-fashioned magic – chances are we’ll never know what’s involved in putting Scott Silven’s show The Lost Things! on, but it will almost certainly leave audience members with a feeling somewhere between awe, disbelief, and needing to check if everything is still in their pockets.
There’s a story arc threading a loose line through the show, involving a formative time in Silven’s life when he was a child and became lost in a forest, along with references to his own sometimes complex relationship with his father. The theatre of the night is amplified by a charming woodland set, atmospheric lighting changing colour with the mood of the scenes, and little vignettes that capture the past.
Audience participation is available for those who dare, and Silven makes sure he keeps the crowd on their toes, plus there’s plenty of laughs for good measure.
All mentalists use psychology as a basis for their techniques, and Silven has said he has studied not only psychology, but also hypnotism. Those who see the show will certainly be left questioning how on earth he does it. It’s a puzzle that likely can’t be solved.
Its a fun family- friendly night out, and Silven’s overall message is one of reconciliation and hope for the future, mixed in with some self- help type psychology, and quips that recall soundbites remembered from a therapist’s office.
He encourages the audience to consider the connections between their present and their past, between the important events in their lives, and between themselves and the significant people that have formed them. All of which is hardly a bad thing.
Whatever else, we should all be grateful that this Scottish master of the opaque has chosen showbusiness over a career in guessing passwords and identity theft!
Scott Silven: The Lost Things
Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
Until 29 June 2025
