Fringe 2009 - FFA 1 - The Comedy Hypnosis Show

"You will find this hilarious."

("It was much better than CATS. I'll see it again and again.")

Katie Knutson

The Comedy Hypnosis Show

Go beyond "Look into my eyes." No barking or clucking here! Audience volunteers improvise each unique show, which could include a talent contest, knock-out kisses, or even missing body parts. And SLEEP!

The Comedy Hypnosis Show is a unique Fringe experience with the ultimate in audience participation - the stars of the show are actually audience volunteers!

Man, this is a hard one to preview. Because of course you can't hypnotize anyone inside of three minutes and also give a sample of the show, even if you go all the way to that red light. So Katie was at a huge disadvantage. Her pre-selected hypnosis volunteer was Laura Bidgood - a very smart choice - and they riffed off one another well, getting a few nice rounds of laughter off in their time of fake hypnosis together.

CORRECTION - This was, I learned after posting, not fake at all! Where is my generous suspension of disbelief, I ask you?

From Katie herself - For the record, Laura was actually in hypnosis, but I did a lot of work with her before and after the 3-min preview to bring her in and out of hypnosis. Because, you're right, no one could bring someone completely in and out of hypnosis in three mins and do anything worth seeing.

From Matthew Foster - Communications Director for the Fringe - I was just reading your reviews on the Planet and noticed you wrote Katie Knutson's hypnosis was fake last night and, uh, I don't think it was.

I do think when Katie said "sleep" and Laura went out like a light, that was 100% real. I don't know for sure - I didn't get a chance to talk to Katie last night - but I know that was the plan. Katie said that she was going to use Laura for previews because they've done hypnosis together (so Laura would trust Katie) and that Laura's very good at getting hypnotized.

Anyhow, you might just wanna check that out. Since it's published and everything.

Me, the disbelieving blogger - So, wow! Laura really did forget the number six existed. And then when counting her fingers, kept going to 11 and becoming increasingly perplexed by it. And Katie's instructions while Laura was under, that laughter and applause were wonderful supportive things all directed at Laura - and not laughing *at* her. How really cool and caring that was, since this person was under her sway, and could easily have been upset. Man, I'm super-impressed with this preview retroactively now. Kudos.

Katie even got in a quick plug for Laura's Fringe show, and I like that Fringey spirit of generosity.

In that spirit, I'm gonna kick this entry over to Katie's Fringe website show page, which provides a more accurate preview, and answers all the questions about hypnosis which would make me nervous in the audience of such a show, and just general things about hypnosis I didn't know. It all made me lean more toward her show as a possibility, and a source of comedy, so that's a good place to answer your own questions about whether it should be on your short list.