Day 4 -- 5:30 p.m. Time Slot

Show: The Comedy Hypnosis Show

Company: Katie Knutson

Venue: The Playwrights Center

Die Roll: None (My daughter selected this show)


As you may know, hypnotists are a staple of high school graduation celebrations and college activities councils it's fun to see a person do something silly and then have no recollection of it. When hypnosis actually works, it can be very entertaining for the audience all by itself. When it is performed by someone who has a good show put together around it, it is even more fun.

Katie Knutson builds an entertaining hour around hypnotizing a group of about 12 people in front of their peers. And for the most part the willing subjects are led through activities that are harmless and amusing. Now, I say "for the most part" not with regards to the potential for harm statement, but with regard to the concept of being led.

I think the difficulty for a performer doing this sort of show for an audience packed full of attention seeking theatre folk, is that some of those same theatre folk will do anything to get on stage, including pretending to be hypnotized.

I honestly don't know hoe many of the people on stage were in a state of trance. But I do know that a couple of them weren't and that frustrated me as an audience member. What Katie was doing was entertaining. She's clearly good at what she's doing.

I must admit I was surprised at the success she has with this show. I didn't doubt her ability to entertain. She is an able storyteller and a good performer. Going in, what I wondered was how effective a hypnotist could be who has a higer pitched, slightly nasal voice. The answer was that she can be quite effective. I enjoyed seeing how people behave while driving their "dream cars". And how the memory can be confused by odd directions. And how you can be led to think things like you have no belly button. I laughed a lot.

I really wish the couple of folks who went on stage to mug at the audience and goof around hadn't gone up there. But... all in all, even with those people, Katie put forth an effort that was well worth seeing.

TEN WORD SUMMARY: Hypnosis leads to disco dancing and searching for one's navel.

Rating: d12 - "A Heckuva Lotta Fun"