When one thinks hypnosis is hype, another might disagree. It depends on whether or not you've attempted to be hypnotized or you just think it's bunk.
Frank Santos was last Saturday night's hypnotist/comedian at Off the Hook Comedy Club at Capt. Brien's Seafood & Raw Bar. To say it was believable depends on whether you saw the show.
He started by walking through the audience trying to get volunteers to go on stage to attempt to hypnotize them. Most people don't want to make fools of themselves or at least think they might, but in the long run, about 12 people joined the stage.
As he started counting backwards from No. 10, he would inject the word, "sleep" and continue to No. 9 and suggest they were now very relaxed. This continued until he reached No. 1. At that point, some people were disqualified because he knew they were not asleep or they left the stage of their own accord.
Now, not everyone can be hypnotized. I'm a perfect example, having gone to a hypnotist because of a fear of earthquakes. The professional's power of suggestion just didn't work on me.
Back to the show, in the long run, four women remained who seemed to really be asleep and responded to his powers of suggestion. One of the many suggestions was to have one girl get up and sing "I Will Survive. " She sang and gyrated on the stage and it was hysterical.
The more suggestive the ideas were made, the more risque the show became. But I must say, it was done in good taste and not offensive. Not a single curse was used, which proves a show can be successful without swearing.
Audience liked it
The audience was attentive through the course of the evening, and after they loosened up a bit and realized it was a funny show, others participated when Santos asked them to take part. Audience reactions were great.
Steve Krivada said the show was absolutely amazing, "I believed it. It was fantastic."
Jenny Smith, one of the last of four participants, was asked if she was really asleep or just pretending, and she stated, "I don't remember. I have no idea what I did. I only remember watching my girlfriend sing and she would never do that."
"It was great," said Rebecca Moussally. "I didn't believe it before, but I do now."
Santos is unique in that he uses the audience's imagination and allows them to have fun with it This audience was extremely receptive and the applause and screams never seemed to stop. It was a very funny show, even though I'm not truly a believer in hypnosis,
A native of Rhode Island, Santos has been performing for about 26 years.
"Believe it or not, I was a meat cutter in a supermarket," he said. "At a Christmas party, we had a hypnotist and 1 became interested," he stated. "I went to the library, read books and took a course on how to hypnotize myself, then how to hypnotize others," he continued. He started doing hypnosis on people who wanted to lose weight or stop smoking.
"Then there was a bachelor party with entertainment and I did a show. I loved it and here I am," he explained.
For the many New Englanders who attended Saturday evening, Santos performs every Thursday at the Comedy Connection in Boston; every Friday with a first show at the Comedy Connection in East Providence, R.I., and a second show at Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus, Mass.
Capt. Brien's Off the Hook Comedy Club is located in the Courtyard at Marco Walk across from the Hilton Hotel. For reservations, call 389-6900.
Phyllis Bator has been involved with music all her life and has been reviewing entertainment for several years. Comments can be sent to her at
phyllisbator@earthlink.net.
