The show involves Mochrie conducting improvisational comedy skits, or improv, with members of the audience. The twist is that participants have been hypnotized by Mecci on-stage to lead to more uninhibited creativity. The show was first created in 2015 and had a successful off-Broadway run in New York City, where it ran for 70 shows and received positive critical response.
Mochrie, who is best known for being a staple on improvised comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway, expressed his excitement for the new tour in a statement:
“I’m still shocked that Asad is able to hypnotise people night after night. I still get nervous wondering what is going to happen, but each night I’m blown away. I have to keep myself from laughing.”
The Guelph show is part of the GuelphToday.com Comedy Series, and will be the first time the show has been performed in Guelph since a sold-out instalment in 2019. Guelph is one of 18 stops on a nationwide tour that brings Hyprov back to the country where it originated, starting in Halifax and continuing with an extensive run through Ontario, before concluding in Ottawa.
Improvised comedy shows such as this, often promoted through everything from flyer printing to podcast appearances, are a popular way for performers to test their creativity and audiences to see a completely original show each night.
The Guelph instalment of Hyprov will take place on February 23 at the River Run Centre.