Torquil Campbell is finding out that the line between artist and con man is rather thin

You might know Torquil Campbell as a musician in the celebrated bands Stars and Memphis. But he also comes from a stage background: Campbell's father Douglas was an acclaimed thespian and member of the Order of Canada. Now, Campbell has put his theatrical roots to work on a new play called True Crime that investigates the nature of trickery — and, as it turns out, makes some connections between the con game and the life of an artist.

True Crime, co-created by and starring Campbell, tells the story of Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, a real-life imposter who edged his way into American high society by pretending he was "Clark Rockefeller" — a member of the Rockefeller family who never, as it turns out, actually existed. He maintained his life using deceit and even murder, and he was eventually captured during his attempt to flee with his daughter — his love for his family, Campbell argues, was also his demise. Campbell says, "I think there's something very relatable as a parent. You know, it's the most profound tragedy that could befall anyone, is the loss of a child — even if that someone happens to be a sociopath."

In this video, Campbell reflects on the role of truth in our every day lives and ponders how, sometimes, people crave a good story above all else.

See Torquil Campbell and True Crime at the Stratford Festival, July 9 and 16, then at High Peformance Rodeo, Calgary's International Festival of the Arts, January 23-2, 2018.

Watch Exhibitionists on Friday nights at 12:30am (1am NT) and Sundays at 3:30pm (4pm NT) on CBC Television.