Dundee hypnotist Acari is set to return to the stage after almost losing his life to a heart attack in the summer.
Forrester McKelvie, whose known by his stage name, took ill while driving and ended up in hospital for 11 nights but is now making a triumphant return to the job he loves.
Forrester, who was trained by the “dean of American hypnotists” Ormond McGill, will perform a Halloween show at the Gardyne Theatre on October 29.
In August, the 60-year-old thought he was suffering from indigestion and planned to return home, take some Gaviscon, and sleep it off.
But at the last minute the skilled entertainer pulled in to King’s Cross Hospital as a precaution.
Staff there quickly realised it was much more serious and blue-lighted him to Ninewells.
Life-changing heart attack
Forrester, who is still working his way back to better health, said the scare has changed his life.
“If I had gone home that day I wouldn’t be here now,” he said.
“There’s no doubt it changed my whole life attitude. You put off things and say ‘och I’ll get to that some day’ but then you realise some day might not come.
“I couldn’t believe it when they told me I was having a cardiac arrest; it was really scary.
“I’ve had a stent inserted and I couldn’t walk around a supermarket for about eight weeks. I was so out-of-breath but I am getting better.
“I’m so grateful to everyone who has helped me since. The NHS is the best thing we have in this country. I’d love to do a charity performance to say thank you to them all.”
‘Unique and hilarious’ show to return
The Dundonian trained in Boston for three years under McGill, who was known as one of the world’s greatest hypnotists.
His show at the Gardyne Theatre offers up comedy hypnotism with 100% voluntary audience participation.
The audience and volunteers are guided through a “unique and hilarious” programme using special effects, music and props.
He performed at the Whitehall Theatre annually for years but it will be held in Dundee’s east end rather than west end this year.
He said: “I just can’t wait to do the show again. It’s my first show since the heart attack and I have tweaked it a little due to my health but it’s still a great show.
“It was tough during Covid because as an entertainer, I got no financial help.
“I hope we can get bums on seats again because when we performed at the Whitehall Theatre it was always a great turnout.
“People can sometimes be sceptical about hypnotism but there are absolutely no stooges in my show; everything you see is real.
“The best way I can describe hypnotism is that it’s the power of suggestion. I can’t make anyone do something they don’t want to do.”
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