Dr. David Hill encourages audience members to come up front to be hypnotized. 

RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Hypnosis and hysterical laughter were synonymous at the Rancho Murieta Women’s Club luncheon at Rancho Murieta Country Club on Jan. 24.

The entertainer was Dr. David Hill, renowned for his comedy hypnosis show since the 1990s when he was promoted by luminaries Frank Sinatra and Wayne Newton.

The club officers also conducted a short business meeting before the performance.

Hypnotism show

Hill began his show with anecdotes about his encounters with Frank Sinatra and Wayne Newton in Las Vegas in the 1990s. Sinatra, impressed by Hill's performance, insisted he sign up with his agent immediately. Newton even invited Hill to fill in for him during one of his shows in Las Vegas, a stint that lasted two years.

After Hill found a dozen women’s club members willing to be hypnotized, his first order of business was putting them all to sleep. Throughout the performance he guided his subjects through a series of amusing antics: from mimicking zombies to balancing a pail of sand while balloons lifted their hands, to laughing at the tap of his microphone, watching a hilarious movie, conversing with imaginary birds, and even playing the piano with unconventional body parts.

Hill begins his hypnosis show by putting his volunteers to sleep. 

Among the volunteers was Kirschman, who happened to glance up as another subject began playing the piano with her legs. Kirschman began laughing hysterically causing even more hilarity among the audience and participants.

Club President Bonnie Kirschman, center, begins laughing so hysterically that neither she nor the audience can stop. Marilyn Haugen is on her left, and Ali Anerich on her right.

However, the highlight of the show was Deb Vining, who was most deeply hypnotized. After Hill handed her a cloth puppet, Vining believed she was dancing with Sean Connery, even stopping to pose for a photo and to sniff his cologne.

After being hypnotized by Dr. David Hill, on the right, Deb Vining believes she is dancing with Sean Connery. The hypnotist entertained at the Rancho Murieta Women’s Club luncheon on Jan. 24.

At another point in the show, Vining reacted to the theft of her bird. Then she changed her mind and told the thief to keep the bird.

Post show, club members gathered around Vining, showing her videos and confessing to stealing her imaginary bird. Vining described the hypnotic experience as strange, recalling the sensation of letting go of her body and feeling refreshed afterward.

Business meeting

Boots Conway, who was the 2023 club president, opened the business meeting. She said that after three years as Sunshine, four years as vice president, and two years as president, she was ready to hand over the reins to Bonnie Kirschman. “It’s been fun, but it also has been work,” Conway said.

Kirschman then introduced the other 2024 slate of board members. They are President - Bonnie Kirschman; Past President - Boots Conway; Secretary - Susan Kurtz; Treasurer - Ruth Lecheler-Moore; Activityline Editor and Publisher - Vickie Joyner; Activityline Layout and Design - Debra Medrano-Wertz; Interest Group Coordinator - Kathleen Barrow; Membership - Janet Nicholson and Marilyn Laver; Reservations - Cindy Shamrock and Barbara Armstrong; and Sunshine - Cheryl Cannon.

New board members for 2024 introduced at the luncheon are, from left, Cheryl Cannon, Barbara Armstrong, Vickie Joyner, Bonnie Kirshman (president), Boots Conway and Ruth Lecheler-Moore. Six new board members aren’t pictured.

Conway also highlighted the vacancies for vice president and publicity, emphasizing the challenge of filling the shoes of the late Nicole Sullens as the publicity chair. “She was unbelievable, but we just need somebody to do the job,” Conway said.

Kirschman, also in charge of the blood drive, reported on the success of the Jan. 22 event, with 78 pints collected by Vitalant. She announced the next drive scheduled for April 29.

The club’s next luncheon will be on March 27 and will feature “Easter Bonnet Bingo.”