A favourite of the Fringe for many seasons, Matt Hale brings his renowned comedy hypno-fest back for another round with FUNBELIEVABLE! 90s Rewind.

There are regular entertainers, and then there’s Matt Hale. The UK comedian is an unstoppable ball of wholesome energy with an easy-going voice and charm to boot. An apt and able master of the stage without an excessive ego to hold him down. Like a spiritual guide but for feel-good fun, Hale isn’t intent on “tricking” his attendees. Instead, he is an enabler of positivity and a proponent of hypnosis as a form of inhibition release. He educates his crowd on the interpersonal differences that affect susceptibility to hypnosis, complete with an opening demonstration of how individuals perceive the weight of their hands differently following a simple mental exercise.

The appeal of the show is that the audience itself is the main driver of the entertainment: Hale brings a sizable number of attendees on stage to be part of his collective experiment. While many may fear being embarrassed in front of a crowd, Hale takes care to ensure his guests are comfortable and fully engaged in the fun he has prepared for them. His intent is never to ridicule or besmirch his participants; at each point of the show, he keeps a close eye on the mood and carefully selects his nominees to participate in hilarious and carefully-placed pratfalls.

A good two dozen people accepted the invitation to join Hale on stage for his group hypnosis (including yours truly). Sitting upright, Hale directs his participants to follow his commands to elicit a sense of deep relaxation, a simple but effective means of demonstrating the power of mental manipulation. He then assigns roles to a select few nominees who prove to be extra in tune with his commands. What starts as a simple exercise in relaxation quickly turns into an unhinged series of hypnotic hijinks: participants get up and shout quotes from Titanic and Toy Story, while one recreates the musical stylings of Scatman John. It all escalates into a massive dance party where the hypnotees do the sped-up Macarena and channel their inner Spice Girl and boy band personas.

Would I say I was hypnotised? It’s hard to say. But the fun was undeniable. And it was clear that my fellow volunteers were embracing the collective silliness. Whether you got up on stage armed with the intention to dance and follow whatever came your way, or succumbed to Hale’s hypnosis, it was an invitation to party with abandon. Even a dyed-in-the-wool sceptic would see the good times being had a mile away.

Is it magic? Hypnosis? The power of persuasion? Whatever you believe, it’s all a mesmerising blast. Matt Hale delivers a hypnosis home run that's great for all ages. Bring your nan, bring your colleague, bring your bewildered neighbour and get in on Matt Hale's unique brand of mental comedy!

**** Four Stars