Pushing the mental buttons of Canada is now a best-selling tradition for one Canadian family.
Like his father before him, the name Reveen is now being worn by a hypno-entertainer who is touring the nation, wowing audiences from coast to coast with a combination of comedy and feats of the human mind.
Organizers call the Reveen experience "the most popular show in the history of Canadian theatre," for its longevity and public appeal over the two generations it's gone on. An estimated audience of more than six million viewers have taken in the first generation of performances, and now those numbers are set to grow.
"The legend continues as Tyrone Reveen, son of the original Reveen, takes you to the inner and outer reaches of your imagination with The Superconscious Experience," local organizers said during Monday's announcement. "People from the audience become the stars in one of the wildest and funniest shows that has left millions of people crying with laughter all over the world. It's the ultimate family experience."
The act began with Peter Reveen. He was born Australian then moved to Canada in 1961 and remained a Canadian from then on, although he was also a resident of the United States in later years.
He began his performance hypnosis career in Chilliwack and also had a base of operations in Atlantic Canada. He took to the road as an international touring act for most of his professional life. He initially called himself Reveen the Impossibilist and later simply called his show The Man They Call Reveen.
While much of his work was for entertainment purposes, Reveen also established a career using hypnosis for personal relaxation techniques, stopping the smoking addiction, addressing overeating and more. He produced recordings and books on these subjects. He was also one of the steadfast early supporters of the famed Magic Castle academy and attraction in Los Angeles (Reveen was bestowed with their Performing Fellowship in 1997).
Reveen has been cited in popular culture references on shows like David Letterman (by comedian Norm MacDonald), the Trailer Park Boys, Saturday Night Live, The Holmes Show and more.
He passed away in 2013 but Tyrone, one of his four sons, had already taken up the cause and there is even a third generation performer assuming the family mantle. To see this mesmerizing live theatrical experience, come to Vanier Hall on April 1.
Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at the CN Centre box office or via all Ticketmaster platforms.
