Hypnosis for Salesmen: The Lessons of Penny Glass

by Daniel Kessler '12
directed by Michael Cunningham '14

November 17, 18, & 19, 8pm

November 19 & 20, 2pm

Little Theater, Oberlin College

The rules of hypnosis are clear, and salesman, Walter Penbrook, knows them well. Stand up straight. Always look the customer in the eye. A customer will never do anything under hypnosis that they wouldn’t do otherwise. But the limits of what Walter, himself, is willing to do are tested like never before when he meets the mysterious Penny Glass. The two quickly become intertwined in a dark dance of lust and power, as they struggle to control one another and hide secrets that threaten to consume them both. College sophomore, Michael Cunningham directs this thrilling meditation on trust, love, and mind control.

Tickets

$3 In Advance
$5 At the Door

In Person
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Central Ticket Service in Hall Auditorium Lobby.
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 12pm to 5pm

By Phone
Contact Central Ticket Service at: (440) 775-8169 or 1-800-371-0178
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 12pm to 5pm

Seating in Little Theater is limited and there is no late seating.

Little Theater is located in the annex of Hall Auditorium  [Get Directions to Little Theater]

This production is presented by the Oberlin College Theater and Dance Program. 

Artistic & Production Credits

Cast

Production Notes

“We use mind control on a daily basis without ever acknowledging it,” says director Michael Cunningham. “That is, we say things in ways that subconsciously convince others to do what we want them to do. Because people almost never discuss the power dynamics of interpersonal relationships, they become shrouded in an almost supernatural mystique.” This other-worldly quality pervades Hypnosis for Salesmen: The Lessons of Penny Glass, creating a world in which the line between the real and the fantastic is engagingly obscure.

When Walter Penbrook, a door-to-door salesman trained to use mind control as a sales technique, comes to the home of Penny Glass, he gets far more than he bargained for. The two grow closer, as Walter uses hypnosis on an unsuspecting Penny. But the smoke and mirrors of mind control cannot hide Penny and Walter’s sinister pasts for long. When the true nature of their relationship is revealed, will they be strong enough to face it together?

Hypnosis for Salesmen: The Lessons of Penny Glass was partially inspired by the book, A Brief Course in Hypnosis for Salesmen, an actual guidebook written by renowned twentieth-century hypnotherapist, Arnold Furst. While the book advocates for the use of hypnosis in sales situations, playwright Daniel Kessler reached beyond the practical use of hypnosis, focusing on the complex moral problems that occur when one consciously controls another person’s mind.

A rare collaboration between the Theater and Creative Writing departments, Hypnosis for Salesmen: The Lessons of Penny Glass is college senior Daniel Kessler’s theater capstone project. While this is the first full-length production of his work at Oberlin, Kessler has workshopped several of his plays here, most recently, Belle and the Fruit Fly. “I’m really hoping that the the show will encourage other student playwrights to share their work,” says Kessler. “The opportunity to see my work grow from a concept to a full-fledged production has been invaluable to my artistic growth.”

Bios

DANIEL KESSLER (Playwright) is a senior majoring in Theater and Creative Writing at Oberlin College, where he has held a range of positions in theater. Outside of Oberlin, Dan has studied at the University of Edinburgh, the National Theater Institute of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, and Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Residencies: La MaMa E.T.C. (Spoleto, Italy); Assistantships: Martin Kettling, Erin Courtney, David West Read; Observerships: Steppenwolf, Roundabout, Actors’ Theater of Louisville, Playwrights Horizons, Clubbed Thumb, National Playwrights, Puppetry, and Music Theater Conferences; Mentorships: Erik Ehn, Nilo Cruz, Marcus Gardley, Donna DiNovelli; Public Performances: nine one-acts and three full-lengths [O’Neill], a one act [Hygienic Art Center, Waterford, CT]; Readings: Waterford (CT), London, Spoleto, NYC; Master Classes: Brian Dennehy, Adam Bock, Young Jean Lee, Greg Allen, Raquel Davis, Yuriy Kordonskiy, etc.; Internships: The Dramatists Guild of America (Creative Affairs), Clubbed Thumb (Production). Dan is an active member of the Dramatists Guild of America and RiFRAC Theater Collective.

MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM (Director)is a second year majoring in Theater and Computer Science at Oberlin College originally from New York City. Michael began directing in High School in Concord, MA, and since then he has directed an array of musicals, plays and concerts. Recent Oberlin Direction credits include Through Children's Eyes (Oberlin Hillel) and Songs for a New World (Oberlin Musical Theater Association) as well as various smaller pieces for the Oberlin Musical Theater Association and the Oberlin Student Theater Association. Michael is also a Technical Assistant in Hall Auditorium and a Lighting Designer.

Media

All media inquiries can be directed to Ellie Philips at 440.775.8171 or ephilips@oberlin.edu