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The Silent Struggle (There, I Said It), a new solo show in this year’s Fringe, follows a college student through a mental health ordeal, with surprising twists and turns along the way. It’s written, performed, and directed by Philadelphia actor, singer, rapper, and dancer Taahira Teshi. She fuses monologue, projections, storytelling, and song with candid humor and honest reflections to tell one young woman's story while confronting broader societal issues like the stigma around mental illness, and inequities in care for African Americans. The show runs through September 21 at the Indigenous People’s Artisan Marketplace on Ridge Avenue.
The production opens with a game show called What’s Your Illness? where a heard-but not-seen-host, Sally Sobs a Lot, attempts to pinpoint the mystery ailments of her contestants. Teshi, the first player, begins to describe her symptoms, including low energy, loss of interest in things she used to enjoy, frequent crying, and more sleeping. Sobs a Lot accurately diagnoses her with depression to rapturous applause from the audience, but quickly informs her “You are not in the race of people that get treated.” Adding insult to injury, Sobs a Lot says she does not make the rules; she “just benefits from them.”
In the next scene, Teshi (playing both roles) is having a tense conversation with an academic advisor who ultimately suggests she suspend her college career for an indefinite period to focus on her deteriorating mental health. Then Teshi breaks the fourth wall by performing a "time out" move à la Zach Morris in Saved By the Bell. The prospect of academic leave is particularly thorny given the fact she is the first in her family to go to college.
“We work through it,” Teshi’s father (also played by Teshi) proclaims after she reveals the possibility of leaving school for an unknown amount of time to tackle her depression. Teshi personifies a paternal dismissive skeptic, rejecting the idea of therapy or seeking help, convinced that the only way to deal with hardship is to bottle up feelings and plow forward.
Streamlined and courageous
Elsewhere, Teshi shines for the courage to open up about her mental health struggles and share something so deeply personal. Her willingness to be so vulnerable on stage is an extraordinary act of bravery that makes a profound impact. I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll just say that the performance navigates self-harm, suicide, the impact of racial trauma on stress, and ending the phenomenon of suffering in silence.
The set design for this one-woman show is a masterclass in minimalist versatility, proving that an artist’s imagination, when given the right tools, can furnish an entire universe. The stage, stripped to its essential elements, features only a few key pieces: a lectern, three chairs, a couch, and a table. Two of the chairs, placed side-by-side, seamlessly become the cramped interior of a car, where Teshi and her father dialogue about her spiraling mental health during a road trip. Meanwhile, on the other side of the stage, the simple arrangement of a chair and table instantly evokes the support and guidance of an academic advising office.
Offering help
The back of the playbill features a helpful list of mental-health resources for anyone who might be struggling. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, and The City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services may prove useful for individuals facing hardship. I appreciate the variety of options listed to suit different needs and preferences. This collection is a thoughtful and practical way to offer assistance, ensuring that those in need can easily find information on where to get help.
Know before you go: this show contains references to prejudice, depression, self-harm, and suicide.
What, When, Where
The Silent Struggle (There, I Said It). Written and directed by Taahira Teshi. PWYC starting at $10. September 7-21, 2025, at Indigenous Peoples Artisan Marketplace (IPam), 1608 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia. phillyfringe.org.
Accessibility
Indigenous Peoples Artisan Marketplace (IPam) is a wheelchair-accessible venue with gender-neutral restrooms.
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