The New Trilby

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 10

The New Trilby

A Budapest paper reports the strange case of a young woman, without talent for acting or singing, who gives astonishing performances when under the influence of hypnotic suggestion. The case resembles that of George du Mauricr’s famous heroine, Trilby, but happily for the young woman no sinster Svengali stands in the background to direct her, as this is done by enlightened doctors in the presence of a committee. The new Trilby is the daughter of a judge of Debrecen. Iler strange capacity was discovered a few weeks ago, when she was rehearsing a part in some amateur theatricals. Two days before the performance was to take place it was seen that her playing was impossible, and her stage fright was so acute that her friends took her to a nerve specialist. The doctor discovered that she was suffering from certain inhibitions, and put her into a hypnotic sleep, during which lie suggested that she would feel no fear on the night of the performance. | Although she had never appeared on I the stage before, and had never had a ' lesson in acting, her success was overwhelming. Owing to further nervous symptoms she continued to receive hypnotic treatment, and it was discovered that although she has no car for music and knows nothing about singing, she possesses a voice of very fine quality.