Tony Lee
XXX, Aggressive Comedy Hypnosis

Tony Lee
XXX, Aggressive
Comedy Hypnosis

Tony Lee
E4 Udderbelly’s Pasture @ 23:30, Aug 2-27 (not 14), (1hr 25mins approx), £11.50 (£10.00), £13.50 (£12.00)
****
I’ll be frank, the thought of attending a comedy hypnosis show filled me with dread, if only for fear of being Frank, or Jeff, or Susan… or naked. I’ve never been hypnotised and the thought of being suggestible rather scares me, I embarrass myself enough in life as it is without some bloke getting me to hump a chair for entertainment. That said I’m perfectly content with watching some other poor sod believe they’re a dog.

Tony Lee goes somewhat further than that, yes there were some canine antics to be had, but I also got to see some of the participants’ favourite sexual positions – and I don’t mind saying, if it had been me up there, the audience would not have seen such jaw-dropping creativity! The hypnotist himself found a few choice additions for his “spank bank”.

Reassuringly, Tony Lee did ensure that the ‘volunteers’ remained fully clothed, but this show has three X’s on the poster for a reason. Participants believed they had strap-ons, sexual prowess got tested, and whipped cream was involved. Lee, entertains the onlookers by working right on the edge, I’ve always had my doubts about the responsibility of some comedy hypnotists but I never expected to see one downing shots of vodka as he put his subjects under!!

He’s got a strong personality and I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him (he’s a big feller!), Lee sits somewhere between really cheeky and terrifically evil with the swing-o-meter flicking wildly back and forth between the two. But he is never really the star of the show – that title easily goes to the participants on the stage. They provide those frequently stunning moments of gasp inducing unshielded naturalism in response to his suggestions. The show doesn’t even stop when we leave the auditorium, as the devilish Lee sends the ‘volunteers’ off out into the bar with a range of increasingly ridiculous whims to fulfil, much to the amusement of their friends and onlookers who followed them around chuckling as the craziness continued.

This is a great show to go to with a big bunch of mates, but take a good hard look at your friendship trust levels beforehand!

by Ian Phillips

The National Student's
2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
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