Lee Campbell brings the story of his partner, Alex, and their dog, Rufus into a Zoom performance of poems, artwork, and projection onto his chest via the programme’s green screen feature.
It’s a personal piece as we’ve come to expect from Campbell, but it is less edgy, sweeter, and lighter, as Rufus is given a voice through many of the verses. Words slide across the screen, which evoke the sense of ‘dog’.
The Adventures of Rufus is funny, poignant, and familiar. There are runs on the beach, a teddy bear symposium of safety, and the trio of Lee, Alex and Rufus, a cuddly triangle.
Man and dog, man as dog, man with dog. Campbell plays with the rough and instinctive nature of the canine, puppy eyes, servile but with a vicious streak, however deeply buried.
The poems are often quirky and off-kilter, with images to match. One section focuses on “a dog at the wheel of a car” or “Rufus with a gun – but I could have been dreaming!”
Rufus is clearly a major part of Campbell’s imaginary life as well as his real one. The poems veer off in unexpected directions but are always affectionate.
I found the visuals exceptional as usual in this performance, and Campbell keeps the rhythm going, showcasing a terrific selection of drawings of his beloved “dog friend”.
Dog as family. A letter to Rufus about what’s allowed and what isn’t brings laughter as well as noting the therapeutic nature of having a pet like this dog.
It’s about creating artwork, too, and bringing Rufus to life on the page, ready to show one minute and shut in a scrapbook the next. A celebration of “our instruments of lead”.
In a Q&A after the show, Campbell talks about a ‘dialogue’ between his drawings/visuals and his poetry. He also utilised part of a silent horror film he made to give a nightmare tone to part of the Rufus story.
The Adventures of Rufus played as part of Festival ECRA on 6 Jul. For details on the work of Lee Campbell, go here.
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