The following article is reprinted from the Friday, March 19, 2004 issue of the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper.

HYPNOTISTS: Anthonys give a good introduction to basics of stage hypnotism

Las Vegas productions are forced to play the hand they're dealt

By MIKE WEATHERFORD
Review-Journal

All hypnotism shows are much the same. But Las Vegas is getting so many hypnotists, the crowd for one sometimes seems to belong to another.

Richard and Genie Anthony are in their second year as "The Exotic Hypnotics" at the Riviera.

who: "The Exotic Hypnotics" when: 11:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays where: Le Bistro Theatre, Riviera, 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South tickets: $25.25-$30.75 (794-9433) grade: B+

        Genie and Richard Anthony are embarking on their second year as "The Exotic Hypnotics" at the Riviera. You never know just what you are going to find inside the Riviera at 11:30 p.m. But somehow it seemed surprising to find last Saturday's "Exotic" audience skew mostly under 30.
        Richard chalked it up to the beginning of spring break. The show was in desperate need of an uptight businessman or 78-year-old grandmother to give it some variety, but the nature of hypnotism is that you play the hand you're dealt.
        Genie and Richard soldiered on like the pros they are, and may even have heightened the trust factor by coming off as a wacky sitcom Mom and Dad. if a street boy can't believe these ol' hippie-types when they tell him the tiger tail zipped into his baggy pants is really an important appendage, who can he trust?
        For instance, who is going to cherish their Vegas vacation more than Chad and Corrina (the spelling is a guess based on pronunciation), two members of Genie and Richard's audience?
        Corrina started the show not as a stage volunteer, but by taking up the duo's offer to anyone in the cozy Le Bistro Theatre audience to join in the induction process.
        After the Anthonys alternated their soothing directions to "let go completely," and to "relax all the muscles in your shoulders," Corrina was slumped forward in her seat, out cold. So much more than some of the stage volunteers that Richard gave a few of them the boot and made a place for her.
        Corrina was as close as this show came to having a star. When told that hearing "Riviera" would trigger he to scream, "Not tonight, Chad!" she yelled it so loudly her husband called up, "I'm not even sure she's hypnotized!"
        Later she made Richard jump by yelling it again after he apparently forgot about the earlier suggestion and mentioned the hotel. And Chad couldn't complain about the final suggestion, that she kiss him so hard her lips became stuck to him.
        For the rest of it, the Anthonys wisely stuck to sight gags, such as turning their subjects into lap dancers, [missing text]
        The Anothonys are nonetheless a solid bet for an introduction to the basics of stage hypnotism, and now they're sweetening the deal by including two drinks with their ticket price.