Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (reviewed Friday 15 August 2025).
Lost & Finding written and directed by Emma Van Veen makes you feel seen. Its vibe is contemporary Alice in Wonderland, where our protagonist, Cassie, goes down the abyss of her kitchen sink-hole to discover the root causes of her paralysing anxiety spurned by the crushing adult world of bureaucracy and schedules. “You mean it takes me forever to do what any other normal, rational person would in 30 seconds?” is a line that resonates, connecting the fantasy, surrealist theme with a deep psychoanalysis into Cassie’s messy brain.
Taking us on this journey are some creepy looking puppets operated by a talented cast. The bossy pigeons (looking more like bin chickens – take your pick) squawk out their cryptic prose and demand more paperwork ServiceNSW style. Little Poppet is adorable with his big, Furby eyes representing our lost, inner child. The Lizard Wizard is a hoot, both intimidating and entertaining the crowd with an interactive game-show that falls flat, prompting poor Lizard to have a catastrophic meltdown because it’s such a terrible disaster (it’s not). Such moments makes us smile with the rueful memories of our own tearful dramas, serving a reminder that the world is never really judging us as much as think, and no matter how far down the rabbit hole we go, there will always be another door, another opportunity to get back on our feet and find ourselves again.
The crowd gave this one a standing ovation on opening night.
Lost & Finding is on at Flight Path Theatre till 23 August. For tickets and showtimes, go to https://www.flightpaththeatre.org/whats-on/lost-amp-findings
CREDITS:
CAST
Cassie – Emma Throssell
Puppeteer/Cassie Understudy – Ashleigh Chandler
Puppeteers – Natanyah Forbes, Jade Fuda, Michael Ho, Renae Valastro & George Wohlfiel
PRODUCTION TEAM
Writer/Director – Emma Van Veen
Puppet Director/Maker – George Wohlfiel
Associate Director – Sophia Bryant
Production Designers – Hannah Tayler & Paris Bell
Sound Designers – Ellie Wilson & Bryan Ruiz
Lighting Designer/Stage Manager – Caity Cowan
Assistant Stage Manager – Sevan Dermelkonian
Producer – Aaron Cornelius
Hero Imagery – Bryan Ruiz
Videography – Alex Morrisey-Smith
Photography Assistant – Michael Candrick
Production Stills – Phil Erbacher