The Singing Hypnotist Casts A Sonic Spell

By Stuart Black Last edited 106 months ago
The Singing Hypnotist Casts A Sonic Spell ★★★☆☆ 3

Chirstopher-Green-The-Singing-HypnotistThe picture may look old-fashioned but Christopher Green aka The Singing Hypnotist takes a less conventional approach to the art of putting people under.

Advised by two professors and backed by the Wellcome Trust, as well as having been artist-in-residence at the British Library, Green is more interested in the history and sociology of hypnosis than the type of showy thrills associated with counterparts such as Derren Brown. His hour long show at Deptford's Albany Theatre (which runs until Saturday) is somewhere between a lecture and a self-help session, tied together by his soulful crooning of old and new songs about the art.

Green has dug around in the archives and found some charming stuff, including a witty music hall ditty about Svengali, the evil hypnotist in George Du Maurier's 1895 novel Trilby. And there are other playful tunes that both entrance the audience and allow Green to explore the roots of entrancement.

There's also a Q&A element after the main routine in which Green opens up on topics that other hypnotists prefer to keep artfully mysterious. So even if you aren't convinced by the spiel about how Victorians spiritualists, Buddhists and children's lullabies are all connected, it's still a good opportunity to probe someone who knows the subjects of mindfulness and mentalism inside out — and, in his flared blue suit and wide brimmed hat — is as fun as any cabaret act around.

Londonist Rating: ★★★☆☆

The Singing Hypnotist is on 15 and 16 May only, at the Albany Theatre near Deptford train station. Tickets £15. Londonist saw this show on a complimentary ticket.

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Last Updated 15 May 2015