January 24th, 2019

Living a triggered life

Keith Mascoll continues his work via stage and podcast

Celina Colby

Celina Colby is an arts and travel reporter with a fondness for Russian novels.... VIEW BIO

Keith Mascoll stars in his one-man show, “Triggered,” at Calderwood Pavilion. PHOTO: COURTESY KEITH MASCOLL

On Jan. 25, Keith Mascoll’s one-man show, “Triggered,” returns to Boston for a single performance at the Calderwood Pavilion. After three sold-out shows at Hibernian Hall last year, Mascoll’s project returns to the Boston stage in a longer format sponsored by The Boston Foundation.

The multisensory, multimedia presentation follows two men who have experienced domestic violence and are working towards acceptance. Mascoll, who is a survivor of abuse himself, says it’s important to raise awareness for the topic. “I think it’s difficult for men in general, but especially for black men, to talk about their emotions,” he says. “It’s been such a survival tactic for people of color to keep quiet.”

Keith Mascoll. COURTESY PHOTO

Significant updates have been made since last year’s performance. The show originally included only one projector; now it utilizes three to create a fully immersive experience. At Hibernian Hall, the production was shown in the round; at the larger Calderwood space it will be performed in a more traditional theater format with the audience facing the stage. Mascoll will also be sharing his own personal story in addition to the original accounts. The hour-and-a-half long experience will finish off with a talkback. The Boston Foundation will be filming this performance for future use.

The talkback isn’t just a way for Mascoll to discuss his artistic work; it’s a safe space for audience members to communicate as well. Mascoll says, “The last time we did the show we had four or five people disclose during the talkback. And we had the resources to get them help.”

In addition to his continued work on the “Triggered” stage show, Mascoll is launching a podcast with his partner called “Living a Triggered Life.” The podcast will discuss how to be in a relationship with a domestic violence survivor and how to support them. Mascoll says, “Communication is key, and patience. Trying to be honest with ourselves first is important. Then we can share the experience.” He plans to have psychology professionals as guests on the show to add an expert perspective. He’ll also take calls. The podcast is being produced by Podcast Garage in Allston, and Mascoll estimates it will be available on their website within a month or so.

In all his work, Mascoll aims to illustrate that this is an important topic to discuss and that victims shouldn’t feel ashamed about their circumstances. He says, “I hope people come away with hope, empowerment and awareness.”