Andre the hypnotist is in town! … and at the snap of his fingers, you might find yourself embracing a total stranger or laughing uncontrollably.
This was the case at the Guild Theatre on Wednesday night when scores of fans travelled from all over Buffalo City and surrounding areas to see Andre in action.
The theatre was packed to capacity as young and old filled the theatre to witness first-hand the hypnotising master.
Skeptical audience member Nkosana Sihlala said he had travelled from Chintsa to witness the hypnotist in
action.
“I wonder if it’s all real – my worry is, if it is real, then what will happen if they don’t snap out of the hypnosis. But, it seems real.”
Andre came out to massive applause as the crowd welcomed him on stage. Speaking to audience members he said: “East London is a special town. I love that crowd members here always keep coming back.
“I’ve been performing in this town for 23 years and no show is ever the same.”
He asked for the brave to volunteer to be his apprentices and the stage filled with more than 20 young people willing to be part of the action.
“In this town, people drop like flies,” Andre said.
He then began with the trances and impersonations,
and the crowd was treated to hilarious stunts as the volunteers on stage fell over
and giggled at the click of Andre’s fingers.
His movie impersonations had the crowd bursting with laughter.
“When I snap my finger, you are going to embrace one another like a scene from a romantic movie,” he said, and true to his command, the young people danced with one another to romantic music.
Andre snapped his fingers and they quickly separated, bewildered at the thought of being wrapped in each other’s arms.
Two men believed they were long-lost friends after Andre hypnotised them. They could not stop embracing as the music played.
Cole Hunt, one of the volunteers on stage said: “I can’t believe what just happened! I can’t remember anything…”
Had he not been under hypnosis he would not have been able to do all the things he did. “I’m shy,” he said.
Liam Graetz said he felt like he had been asleep for a “really long time”.
“It’s a weird experience. You feel that something different happened but you can’t remember what it is.”
Speaking to the Dispatch after the show, Andre said he had a soft spot for East London.
“It’s been 23 years of packed houses in East London. It’s worth coming back every year. The crowd never disappoints. There are lots of volunteers and they always go under!”
His show runs at the Guild Theatre tonight and ends tomorrow.
Doors open at 7pm. — nonsindisoq@dispatch.co.za
-Dispatch Live
