The entrancing Panther
Pete Panther, the man in black, presents his hypnotic comedy stage show this weekend.
If you’ve never seen a live hypnosis/comedy show and you're wondering if it's real hypnosis or just some crazy stunt, then now's your chance to check it out for yourself. On Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29, Pete Panther, a home-grown Western Australian stage hypnotist, will be strutting his mesmerising stuff in Northbridge.
And just what is involved in a hypnosis stage show? Apart from fun for everyone, there are two ways to go.
If you’re the observer type, you can stay in the audience and see the antics that others get up to under hypnosis: watch them become the world’s greatest piano player or an Olympic weightlifter, hear them speak alien or argue with the audience.
But if you’re an extrovert and you’re prepared to lose your inhibitions in public, how about volunteering to get up on stage as part of the entertainment?
People do amazing things under hypnosis, and every show’s new because the volunteers bring with them their own quirky behaviours and reactions to the hypnotist’s suggestions.
Your friends will love you for your dancing and singing, your expertise on great subjects, or your world-class violin playing.
Panther comes up with all sorts of ideas, but some of the funniest skits have been around for years.
“The favourites with the audience are seeing people on stage who think they’re Elvis, or moonwalking like Michael Jackson,” he says.
“I only do about four public shows a year. I mainly do private functions – corporate groups, youth groups, social clubs. The more people attending the better, but they need to be forewarned it’s a hypnosis show. It’s not the sort of thing you spring on people unannounced.”
As a Master Stage Hypnotist, Panther’s not only a family entertainer, but a well qualified one - he’s trained with some of the top UK stage hypnotists and belongs to several professional associations.
Panther’s interest in hypnosis was sparked when he saw a hypnosis show as a kid. These days he’s working towards getting stage hypnotists back on side with hypnotherapists.
“Hypnotherapy is one of the oldest and strongest forms of medicine known to mankind,” he says. “Some of the stage guys in the 60s, 70s and 80s in Australia and New Zealand put on some very dodgy shows, and the clinical therapists suffered because people associated going to see a therapist with the stage shows.”
While Panther admires the work that hypnotherapists do, he prefers the stage experience. “Each show is a party that I’ve been invited to attend – and I get paid for the privilege,” he adds.
The shows are at the Rechabites Hall, 224 William Street, Northbridge starting at 8pm. Bookings can be made at BOCS outlets on 9484 1133 or http://www.bocsticketing.com.au
If you can’t make it in April, how about a trip to the country in May? Panther will be doing a show at the Harvey Town Hall on May 20. Bookings at the Harvey TeleCentre on 9729 1669 or email harveytelecentre@westnet.com.au
