We all have those things that we are insecure about. Those thing that we worry about, that will get in our way. Most of us don’t get on a stage and reveal it to a room full of people. But Trevor Campbell does just that in his show Baggage, and it’s the most vulnerable I’ve ever seen someone on stage.
Campbell was born with his bladder on the outside of his body. And this had massive consequences to his life. He talks about it in extensive details and how this has majorly impacted his life. Most especially his sex life. The play opens to Campbell making out with a woman with red gloves and believe me, she really really wants him.
The thing about this one man show is the ease in which Campbell talks about how he copes with this condition. How difficult it is to live how he does, because we live in a world that is obsessed with sex and body image. How he uses humour as a defense mechanism. How he feels so very alienated.
Campbell tells us about how he turned to music and how in that music, he felt understood. How David Bowie struggled with mental illness and how it runs in Bowie’s own family. Campbell draws you into his story and it’s because you can see yourself in it. We’ve all felt like aliens. We’ve all wanted to hide.
And then Baggage comes to a close with the biggest bang of not hiding. The play is good storytelling and a performance of a true artist being absolutely vulnerable in the most raw way. Most people can’t do it like Campbell can.
The play can veer a bit into the deep zone and you wonder when Campbell is going to get back to his story, but Baggage is overall an engaging story.
Baggage is part of the Calgary Fringe Festival. There are 4 more chances to catch it. More information is available online.