Hypnotist Paul McKenna leads a double existence. By day a motivational shaman who transforms lives, by night a showman who can convince people that they are Eminem or Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. At the Garrick he plays it purely for laughs, some corny, others uncomfortable.
The sight of Peter Mandelson lent Saturday night a frisson. Would the erstwhile spinner give us his Slim Shady? Sadly, no. But 50 other fans bounded on to the stage at McKenna's invitation. Gradually, they were whittled down, those unsusceptible to his gentle suggestions taking a walk of shame back to their mates.
McKenna delivers Butlins material with snake-oil salesman slickness. Bald pates are polished, portly punters dubbed Rik Waller. But when he mesmerises his final 10 subjects he is entrancing. A Kiwi lawyer was so sure that a broom was Michelle Pfeiffer he was awoken for decency's sake.
The spells even continued during the interval, when a fitness instructor carried out classes and a runner from ITV's This Morning barked directions like a jumped-up De Mille.
Towards the end McKenna straddled the taste barrier. A prim volunteer lapdanced, while three men re-enacted The Full Monty, stripping to the waist. It was lack of imagination rather than exploitation that was truly offensive. Some tricks are terribly creaky. McKenna's fake X-ray specs date back at least to his 1993 TV series.
Unashamedly entertaining, frequently exhilarating, but it will take a better hypnotist to make me believe McKenna is groundbreaking.
Also 31 January. Information: 020 7494 5088.
Paul McKenna's Hypnotic Show
