Depression hits us all differently in different ways. Long gone are the days that we think that depression is only in the form of a man or woman crying or sulking. Depression has been known to come in the form of hollering, anger, oversleeping, overeating, etc. its forms are even more hard to find so many think they aren’t depressed. Depression isn’t always something that you simply heal from. It’s something that even with self-care you can find yourself in. With that in mind we enter the production of You shouldn’t be doing what you’re doing on that ladder that showcases a journey. It’s a crazy journey and wo would have thought that a set of ladders could put it into perspective.
Ladders really?
Written by Charlotte Northeast and performed by Peter Smith this nervy performance is amazing. I had to gasp in awe of what Peter was able to do with his talents. However, beyond the talents of his use with the ladder (by the way no ladders were hurt during the performance) he was able to bring emotion in a way that I hope allowed people to see themselves. This production was about to shine a light and if anything, show hope. Hope that if you too were feeling like your bout of depression was some how secluded that you learned quickly on that it wasn’t.
Triggers
I have been extremely candid about depression as I personally believe the more, we speak on it and give it life it doesn’t stay it helps us to deal with the moods that are making us feel that we are at our lowest. For instance, I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through the performance when hours before I got a call that someone I loved had passed away. It was heart wrenching and I struggled to get through my activities with my kids let alone get makeup on and get ready to go to a performance that might set my triggers off. However, in all professionalism I did what I needed like we all do. We all who openly deal with depression know of the times when getting out of bed is the worse to do. I felt like bricks when I needed to get from point A to point B before the performance. I hadn’t had that happen in quite some time. The minute I told myself that it was okay to feel this grief and the sudden onset of it I was able to manage myself better.
Pushing through
You shouldn’t be doing what you’re doing on that ladder showed how there are days that you just simply push through. Your days are up. You enjoy small and simple things like walking your dog, going to work or gym but than the days does come when even the repetitious things are hard. I saw Peter’s mood go from happy go lucky to sluggish and slow. That’s how it starts for me. I find even with blogging when it’s time for me to type at times how difficult it is to do, and I absolutely love what I do. This is when I can sense at times that I need to be aware of a depressive mood. However how many times had I done like Peter on that ladder go from slow and sluggish to down right anger and frustration? Many times, before I was able to see myself. How many others seen me and thought man she must have a bad attitude? This is what it looks like.
Peter smith
I saw in Peters performance the ability to be happy and free and then to be debilitating not able to cope. That feeling of why am I here? Why does the world even care? Unfortunately, few people talk about those moments when hope escapes. I hope those who were there grasped that even in despair that we must hold on to a glimpse of hope even when its fleeting. Pushing through is almost a life skill that adulting requires. The show was like funny but with a lot of pins and needles. It was times when we were quiet and times when we attempted to be quiet but couldn’t because Peter’s ability to do these stunts with these ladders is that amazing.
I felt better than when I came in. you know that is what depression does too. It alters perception. Just because I was grieving didn’t mean that I would be triggered but to protect myself I wanted to be sure that I would be okay, and I was fine.
Tribe of Fools
Tribe of Fools and the whole production team had this one man show to be one of the best visual performance I’ve seen that showcased depression as it is in real life and with a ladder of all things. That ladder became the teacher for the night and we the students of life on loving ourselves through the darker times. To understand it’s okay to have good and bad days. Hope is never too far. What we think we can’t do might be just an imitation of darkness that we can use even the smallest amount of light until we can see the sun. Better days are always near.
Thank you to Tribe of Fools and Carrie Gorn for having me. Thank you to Peter Smith for your amazing performance. Thank you to Charlotte Northeast for your talent of writing taking something so dark and shining a light that is going to help others battle with dark days at least one less day or one less moment.
You have 3 opportunities with limited tickets. The first is tonight Friday February 21 at 8pm and tomorrow Saturday February 22 at 2pm and 8pm. You can get your tickets here.
Little note the location is at 200 Spring Garden Street, Unit C. It’s within the parking lot of the gym and towards the back you will see this: 
