EXHIBITION OF HYPNOTISM

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25769, 2 April 1949, Page 2

EXHIBITION OF HYPNOTISM

PERFORMANCE BY FRANQUIN

Varied and amusing entertainment was provided last evening by Franquin when he opened his exhibition of hypnotism in Christchurch at the Theatre Royal. Probably because Christchurch audiences were introduced to hypnotism as a stage entertainment in similar performances last year, no suspicion or distrust . was shown by last n ght’s audience and there were many volunteers to lake part in the demonstrations.

After a short demonstration of psychometry in which a number of articles were quickly returned to their respective owners, Franquin astonished his audience by his amazing feats of memory. He was able to recall without assistance a list of 40 articles, names of which had been suggested by the audience. The main part of the programme consisted of demonstrations of mesmerism and hypnotism. Quickly Franquin chose by short mesmeric tests subjects who were reasonably easily suggestible. A hypnotic sleep was later induced in these subjects, who responded energetically to Franquin’s suggestions that they were trombonists in the Salvation Army band, or violinists in a symphony orchestra. Later, when told they were at the pictures, thev reacted in a variety of wavs, including violent laughter and tears, to the types of picture which Franquin suggested were being shown to them.

Some of the subjects caused considerable amusement when asked for their tickets on their suggested homeward journey in the tram. The variety of places in which tram tickets were apparently kept was surprising. An interesting demonstration was that showing the abilitv of the mind to recall under hypnosis facts which it would be very difficult to recall when fully conscious. A middle-aged woman wrote on a blackboard her name as she would have written it as an eight-year-old child, and announced the name of the child who sat next to her. Franquin also induced a state of catalepsy in which subjects lost the ability to feel a needle prick. In this state, complete rigidity was induced, and the subject was able to be stretched out with his head on one support and his feet on another. In this position one subject was able to support the weight of two persons. Even when they had left the stage some subjects showed that they were still under the hypnotist’s influence. They were apparently unable to refrain from acting on the suggestions they had received. Two boys caused amusement by standing up when they had returned to their places in the audience, and shouting “Toodle-oo." Others were unable to move from the staee or to remember their names until bidden to dd so by Franquin. One subject completely missed the entertainment by going into a hypnotic sleep at the beginning of the performance and remaining in it, in spite of several attempts to recall him to consciousness. Finally Franquin had to request the subject’s friends in the audience to call for him backstage. The application of cold water would probably be necessary to make him regain consciousness, he said.