Created and directed by Scott Silven alongside Graham McLaren
“Linger on the edge of mystery!”- Scott Silven proclaims in his new show in Sydney.
Reviewed by Grace Ackary
The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
Until 29th June, 2025
Tickets: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/book-now/266079/0
Type: Illusions, Mentalist, Storytelling
If you liked: David Blaine, Criss Angel, Dynamo
Scott Silven’s ‘Lost Things’ is a mentalist based, thought-provoking show running at just under an hour and a half at the Sydney Opera House. You walk into the Playhouse theatre and the stage is adorned with a forest of trees, dappled in sunlight. A boy comes onstage and takes a seat while the audience is milling, talking, and getting comfortable. His earphones are in, and he seems to be listening to an old iPod. No-one in the audience takes much notice, and he is very much in his own world.
The audience themselves are pre-occupied with the sealed envelope, pencil, and paper, resting on their seats. “Do not open until Scott tells you to”. A few of us switch seats. Will this ruin the magic, we think?
The show begins and Silven is immediately charismatic; he puts the room at ease. He has command over the space in a way that is warm and energetic and not too showman-like. The sound design, too, is engaging and immersive, creating interest and intrigue, and along with the somewhat eerie, fantastical music, you feel like you’ve stepped into an enchanted forest.
“Linger on the edge of mystery”, Silven proclaims, and this is what the show attempts to do. We are taken on a journey of magic tricks, illusions, and mentalist moments with members of the audience. He links these illusions with stories about his childhood and his father who left when he was very young. The young boy seen at the start is young Scott, and this through-line of family connection and heartbreak gives the show an edge of depth which is in itself quite interesting.
Silven asks us to, “Abandon what feels safe in your life”, and urges the audience to question the stories they tell themselves. Even if the magic ‘tricks’ we are seeing are just tricks…does it matter?
Thus, a show that is fun for the family in its interactive, immersive style (a few young teenagers braved the stage to participate) becomes underpinned with deeper questions and issues.
The show encourages connection between audience members. It begets conversation and interactivity
‘What is something you have never told your daughter, but that you are very proud of her for?’ He asks a father at one point in the show. He asks his audience to delve instinctively into their memories, to stir up and engage with moments and people that they may have ‘lost’ or not thought of in a while.
The show encourages connection between audience members. It begets conversation and interactivity- a nice pre-curser for a dinner together, or an enlivened conversation.
Towards the end of the show there tends to be a little bit of repetition, with some of the links to family and the bigger issues discussed become slightly belaboured and a little tenuous. Overall, the feeling upon leaving the theatre is one of an easy, enjoyable night out, and possibly a small sense to call that friend you’ve not spoken to in a while.
The Lost Things with Scott Silven is at the Sydney Opera House from 11 – 29 June 2025.
EVENT DETAILS:
WHAT: Scott Silven: The Lost Things
WHEN: 11 – 29 June 2025
WHERE: Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
TICKETS: From $85 + booking fee
