Having had the pleasure of seeing Xavier Crow’s world-class magic show I thought I would give his hypnosis show a whirl.

The personable Australian-born Xavier warms up the crowd with some charming chat, some ‘mind-reading’ (yes, really), some magic and some information about the process of hypnosis – what it is, how it works and why you should try it: afterwards you’ll feel like you’ve had 6 hours sleep or a massage and you’ll experience something profound….like virtual reality without the tech!

To my surprise I join 20 other hopefuls who head up on stage. After some very relaxing talk and ‘tests’ alas, I admit defeat and head back to my seat. I’m told it’s not a fail, it’s just that “some require a different environment to feel relaxed enough to become hypnotised”. (Oh, ok then – fail!)

The 10 people left onstage are in a deep hypnotic trance (they looked normal to me – maybe slightly glazed) and are highly suggestible. They’ve been put to ‘sleep’ with a flick, snap, tug and then various scenarios are suggested to them while ‘under’, individually or as a group. 10 people so deeply asleep that they’re lying on each other or on the floor is very amusing just for starters …

[Spoiler alert…] “When you wake you’ll believe you are a Martian – you can understand English but can only speak in Martian”. And to save any confusion a top Martian translator is created. Phew. And so the hilarity ensues. A man is told his name is Tim Tam and gets increasingly annoyed when Xavier gets it wrong (on purpose).

A woman has forgotten the number 6 exists and is bewildered having a finger leftover in the count to ten. All dancing to a music medley for the audience – the judges – in a dance completion is hilarious too.

The finale is the group are told when they wake they’ll believe the hypnosis hasn’t worked and they’ll feel like Xavier has wasted their time. But when they step onto the stairs to leave they’ll remember everything. Again – fascinating and a hoot. -…ends]

It’s like watching really good acting with various amusing scenarios but these people are not actors. Some are more entertaining than others, of course, with stronger reactions and their energy levels in different ‘scenes’. Xavier is a kind soul so it never feels we were laughing at the people onstage but with them. 

It turns out this has been Mr Crow’s first proper full hypnosis show but with his gracious command of the audience you’d never have known. In fact we are made so comfortable it’s like we’re hanging out in his home.

The Wanaka Centre’s sound system lets him down but even this doesn’t phase Monsieur Crow. He has the talent and likability to take over the world and is leaving to tour this show in Australia and Canada and then off to Europe. With this intriguing, magical, hilarious and interactive show, taking over the world is very possible.  

Do yourself a favour and see him wherever and whenever you can.

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