Review: Lost Paws

Image Credit: Abby Swain

There are several difficulties that original, independent productions headed to the fringe  face: cost of travel, sets, cast, and creating something that audiences both should, and feel  the need, to see. Luckily for those involved with ‘Lost Paws’, the latter two problems are not  something that they should have to overcome. The production does a fantastic job cleverly  using its set, soundscape and lighting to immerse the audience into the unfamiliar setting of  London. 

Co-Written by Ellie Rose Amit and Charlotte Pine, and directed by Ellie Rose Amit, this four  person production follows two cats, the book loving house cat Iris (played by Phoebe  Nichols) and the viral internet sensation Jeffabelle (played by Danny Gordon-Boyd) as they  leave the comfort of their homes, find each other and an unfamiliar London. Meanwhile, their  owners Shira and Arlan, played by Beth Sanders and Sonny Birane respectively, begin the  hunt for their feline friends, eventually falling for one another. 

The first thing to mention is the set-design, as I said earlier one of the challenges that these  independent productions face is often budget, the is somewhat a reflection of this, however I  found myself commending the use of a minimalistic, multi-purpose set; allowing the viewer to  project their own vision of the settings was a smart way to get around the aforementioned  small budget, and therefore a special mention must also go to producers Lily Payton and Iris Akdal for this. Choosing to have minimal music, with some being performed by Shira on an  accordion, was also an admirable decision, and added to the almost dreamlike quality of the  play, particularly the choice to use the Günter Kallman Choir rendition of ‘Daydream’ during a couple of scenes.  

Image Credit: Abby Swain

Performances are another crucial aspect to the strength and success of ‘Lost Paws’. All four cast members shine, in particular Phoebe Nichols and Beth Sanders play their roles of Iris  and Shira with just enough levity that viewers are drawn in during more emotionally intimate moments and find themselves laughing when they should, this is not to disregard the  performances of Danny Gordon Boyd and Sonny Birrane, who play the duo of London  internet celebrity and his care-free owner very well. 

As is often the case with productions that find their roots in Leeds University’s performance  societies, the writing has a unique and earnest humour to it, the scene in which Jeffabelle is  introduced to Iris is sure to get a laugh out of audiences whilst the emotionally tender scene  that takes place simultaneously between the cats and their owners made me somewhat  emotional, with the soundscape coming into use, hearing Shira detail how important Iris is  her companion and important to her mental health complimented this. 

The themes of mental health are prevalent throughout the play, even in passing moments at  times serving as a commentary on the approach many men take to mental health, as well as  the effects of loneliness. The dichotomy created by the owners and their pets is highlighted; at the end of the production, with Jeffabelle, the experienced outdoor cat choosing to return to the comfort of his home and Iris choosing not to return to her quiet indoor lifestyle.

‘Lost Paws’, clocking in at less than an hour is a show that anyone with the time and a love  of cats should make an effort to see, the comedic highs are high and the emotional lows  gripped me, it was a thoroughly enjoyable watch, underscored by the cast and crew who  have clearly poured effort and love into it.

Words by Gabriel Morrissey-Limb