A self-consciously campy riff on '50s cheapie-creepies, "The Mesmerist" plays like a mercilessly extended version of an uninspired "Saturday Night Live" sketch. Helmer Gil Cates Jr. encourages his ...

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“The Mesmerist,” which opened this weekend at Steppenwolf Theatre, is considerably less than a spellbinding experience.Ara Watson’s play is based on real people and actual events centered on ...