Show Rating:

I went to Tony Lee feeling a little trepidatious, so dragged a reluctant husband with me. We had heard all the stories of what Tony Lee persuades audience members to do: getting naked, simulating sexual acts and so on. But what everyone failed to tell us is what a good-natured show this is.

Lee is a nice guy. He does not want to make a fool of anyone for his own gain. He wants everyone to have a good time, so he moves through the audience, hands out vodka, downing shots with punters and creating a party atmosphere.

He is a fabulously charismatic performer with a cheeky sense of humour and a resounding deep, sexy voice. No wonder people fall under his spell.

My perception of hypnotists had been of smug, smarmy, superior men who lord their mysterious powers over us. I could not bear the thought of sitting through a show in their company. Lee, a Chinese Canadian, has none of this. He does not want to mystify the art of hypnotism, he only wants to have fun.

There is no way you can get hypnotised if you are not a willing participant. And for anyone that does go under, Lee will make you a superstar.

The ‘star’ of the show I saw just collapsed in giggles on the ground as he remembered going outside in his underwear after getting undressed onstage, simulating masturbation, and pretending to marry his best friend which ended in a r saucy love scene. The audience stood round him applauding.

I have never laughed so hard in a show before. And this organic show is different every night, depending on what wicked thing Lee devises based on the participants and their friends.

Tony Lee is just the kind of risqué late night show the Fringe has been searching for. Hallelujah!

Reviewed by: Rosie Carnahan