Hypnotist has audience in hysterics by unleashing its imagination

Fifteen students befriended fruit, danced under the control of a voodoo doll and drooled over the sweet-smelling shoulder of a fellow volunteer on Saturday night.

The students were all acting from the suggestions of Tom Deluca — a hypnotist who used the student volunteers during his show at the Robins Center.

The skits the students performed occurred because the hypnotism allowed the volunteers to tap into their imaginations — with encouragement from the audience, Deluca said. The freedom of imagination led to unusual situations, such as one young man who proposed to the stranger sitting next to him.

One girl attempted to shoot cows after Deluca said her car was surrounded by them. When the participants milked the cows later, one student proceeded to suckle the imaginary teat instead and the audience exploded with applause.

During another part, one male participant stripped off his shirt at the suggestion that he was the sexiest man alive. He flexed his muscles and strutted while "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred played in the background.

As an alien, one girl had to rely on the "I'm Too Sexy" boy to translate her strange language. In perhaps the most inappropriate moment of the show, he told the audience, "She wants to know if anyone has a drink because she wants to explore herself sexually."

"That was the most disappointing point of the show," Deluca said later in private. "The alien girl was so into it, but the boy unfortunately wasn't as inventive."

Other sections of the performance were more successful, Deluca said. One such part involved sophomore Jerry Giordano, who was told that he was the University of Richmond's most emphatic cheerleader who just couldn't remember the spider mascot.

Giordano let out a horse's "neigh" and pranced around the stage trying to drum up audience support for the "Richmond Unicorns." Then, it was the "Ostriches" with a weird strut reminiscent of the Charlie Sheen alien movie "The Arrival." Finally, he fell flat onto the stage to cheer for the "Starfish."

When asked whether he could remember what it was like to be Richmond's No.1 cheerleader, Giordano said, "People said I was funny, so I guess I'll ask them later."

Deluca's job lets him interact with his audience in a very personal way — by controlling their every movement on stage. But he said that it wasn't about controlling his participants so much as keeping the show fresh and exciting.

"After 20 minutes, the novelty [of hypnosis] wears off," Deluca said.

The crowd's reaction removed any doubt from Deluca's mind. The audience's hysterical laughter echoed in the hallway when the crowds dispersed after the show. Ultimately, Deluca's success or failure hinged on audience participation as much as anything else.

Contact staff writer Jordan Trippeer at jordan.trippeer@richmond.edu