Review: Doug Segal: How To Read Minds And Influence People, Gilded Balloon, Teviot

By DREW McADAM
Published on 08/08/2012 14:20

IF you thought that mind readers used stooges and camera tricks, then this will change your mind. And if you thought that a mind reader would be a spooky character, then the ebullient Segal will convince you otherwise.

****

From the outset, you know you are in safe hands. He’s even happy to demonstrate his ability to spot when somebody is lying – and teach you how to do it, too.

But that’s the easy stuff. How does he know what somebody has drawn in secret? And how does he make you think of a number that he has written down before you even thought of it? It’s a skill that drops jaws and draws gasps from the packed venue.

All that would be impressive enough, but just when you think his strongest demonstration must be his finish he takes it even further.

Believe it or not, he has a random member of the audience read the mind of three other spectators.

Nobody was more surprised than the volunteer that she had correctly worked out what they were thinking.

For a moment, it could have gone 
either way. But the whole audience rose cheering to their feet, rather than dragging him outside and burning him at the stake as a witch.

It could happen yet.

Until August 27