Mixed reviews for XXX hypnotist show

STORY BY ROBERT SGOTTO

Hypnotized students may have got a mouthful when they volunteered for Tony Lee, who bills himself as the X-Rated Hypnotist.
Lee, who had students perform sexually suggestive acts on stage during an all-ages show last Tuesday at the Marquee, has been a regular at Sheridan’s pub venue for more than a decade.

The event, which saw students strip to their underwear, lick whipped cream from each other’s crotches and sit on their partner’s faces while “twerking” has left some students laughing, while others are disturbed.

Twerking, whipped cream and pizza played roles in Tony Lee’s act at the Marquee last week.

“It was a little embarrassing at first,” said Eliot Shams, an 18-year-old Performing Arts student, and an onstage hypnosis volunteer. “But it was all for a laugh, and in the end, it was hilarious.”

“I guess it was a little wonky that he didn’t give anybody warning,” he added.
Media Fundamentals student Andrew Danis, 18, also volunteered to go on stage and be hypnotized by Lee. He thought that the performance was “Tosh.0 worthy,” referencing a popular TV comedy show.

Sheridan Student Union’s senior manager of events, Chuck Erman, warned the crowd about the content of Lee’s act prior to his performance. In an interview, Erman said his warning that “If you are easily offended by foul language or suggestive material, this is not the place for you” was more than fair enough to everyone in the audience.

As for some of the risqué content, Erman said Lee’s show was a paid event, and ultimately the decision to attend lies with the students. If they didn’t like it, they didn’t have to watch it.

There has been an outcry this month over sexist chants and rude behaviour at some Canadian universities’ frosh week events, but the Student Union wouldn’t comment on Lee’s performance in light of those events.

Not everyone was laughing about the show and some Sheridan students questioned the racy content of the all-ages event.
“I thought it was a 19+ event,” said one hypnotized student, who asked to remain anonymous. “I think it should have been.”
Audience member Donald Junior, a 20-year-old Animation student, who was a volunteer brought on stage by one of those hypnotized, thought the use of whipped cream was a bit over the top.

“I did feel like the show was kind of losing itself at that point.” said Junior. “I guess the hypnotist was running out of ideas when he was waiting for the butt pizza.”