MLM is for Murder (Or, Your Side Hustle is Killing Us)

by John Bavoso

FULL-LENGTH: Side hustles. It seems like everybody has at least one these days. For Minerva Ross, the way to escape the doldrums of her graphic design job in Washington, DC, is to write and narrate her own feminist true crime podcast about how and why women commit murder. Meanwhile, across the country, Felicity Evanston, a stay-at-home wife and mother—and Minerva’s high school nemesis—has just started selling...

FULL-LENGTH: Side hustles. It seems like everybody has at least one these days. For Minerva Ross, the way to escape the doldrums of her graphic design job in Washington, DC, is to write and narrate her own feminist true crime podcast about how and why women commit murder. Meanwhile, across the country, Felicity Evanston, a stay-at-home wife and mother—and Minerva’s high school nemesis—has just started selling ridiculously patterned leggings for the multi-level marketing company Linen & Fate, as much as a way of having something that’s just hers as to supplement her husband’s income. The two haven't crossed paths in years, but when the bubbly and unassuming Felicity snaps and realizes the only way to get ahead in a rigged pyramid scheme is to literally start killing off the competition, both women suddenly experience the kind of overnight success they’ve been so desperately craving—but risk losing their families, freedom, and very souls in the process.

MLM is for Murder is an of-the-moment dark comedy about capitalism, feminism, work-life balance, and pop culture told through parody podcasts, emoji-laden dialogue, Facebook Live videos, and polyester-spandex murder weapons. It begs the question: How much are you willing to give up to get everything you’ve ever wanted?

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MLM is for Murder (Or, Your Side Hustle is Killing Us)

Recommended by

  • Jordan Noble: MLM is for Murder (Or, Your Side Hustle is Killing Us)

    This play is a wonderful distillation of the zeitgeist. MLMs, true crime podcasting, and the distant but connected world we all live in now. Fun and funny on the page, it's also very well suited to the stage.

    This play is a wonderful distillation of the zeitgeist. MLMs, true crime podcasting, and the distant but connected world we all live in now. Fun and funny on the page, it's also very well suited to the stage.

  • Paul Donnelly: MLM is for Murder (Or, Your Side Hustle is Killing Us)

    This is an inspired dark comedy of bad, bad life choices. the motives behind them, and their ultimate consequences. When two vastly different (on the surface) obsessive worlds collide the collateral damage is intense. Throw in a portrait of the soulless and soul-crushing effects of our capitalistic system and you understand that it's more than your side hustle that's killing us.

    This is an inspired dark comedy of bad, bad life choices. the motives behind them, and their ultimate consequences. When two vastly different (on the surface) obsessive worlds collide the collateral damage is intense. Throw in a portrait of the soulless and soul-crushing effects of our capitalistic system and you understand that it's more than your side hustle that's killing us.

  • Jarred Corona: MLM is for Murder (Or, Your Side Hustle is Killing Us)

    Trapped animals bite hard and relish in the blood they draw. When hope is drained and pain bears down, when the world screams into your ears that it will not bend to be kind to you, sometimes it feels as if your only response can be to blow it all up. Capitalism causes untold suffering. It leads people to predatory MLMs, to anger, to us all bending our morals. There's excellent comedy in this grand ride of a show by John Bavoso, and a call to fix our world, but also a warning not to lose ourselves in the process.

    Trapped animals bite hard and relish in the blood they draw. When hope is drained and pain bears down, when the world screams into your ears that it will not bend to be kind to you, sometimes it feels as if your only response can be to blow it all up. Capitalism causes untold suffering. It leads people to predatory MLMs, to anger, to us all bending our morals. There's excellent comedy in this grand ride of a show by John Bavoso, and a call to fix our world, but also a warning not to lose ourselves in the process.

View all 27 recommendations

Character Information

  • Jason Evanston
    A white man, Felicity’s husband. An unassuming but well-meaning man who’s happy acting out the script that’s been written for his life. Is more than a little wary of his wife’s new business venture.
    Character Age
    20s to 40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Sienna Ross
    A woman of any race, Minerva’s wife. Has a time-consuming job she loves, but works to find some balance. Encouraging of her wife’s passions to a point, but also concerned about how they threaten to consume her.
    Character Age
    20s to 40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    woman
  • Woman
    A woman actor of any age and race who plays a variety of characters (the FOUNDER, COWORKER, BIANCA, AMBER, etc.).
    Character Age
    Any
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    woman
  • Felicity Evanston
    A white woman. Stay-at-home Mormon mother and the latest independent fashion consultant for Linen & Fate. Outwardly bubbly and mild-mannered, she was very popular in high school. Despite her big family and community, she feels isolated and adrift.
    Character Age
    20s to 40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    woman
  • Minerva Ross
    A woman of color, the same age as Felicity. Never fit in in her small, Utah hometown and is proud of how far she’s come—even if she desperately wants out of her ‘career.’ Easily obsessed, she’s searching for her passion.
    Character Age
    20s to 40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    BIPOC
    Character Gender Identity
    woman

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization The Parsnip Ship, Year 2023
  • Type Reading, Organization American Stage, Year 2020
  • Type Reading, Organization The Wine Box Players, Year 2020
  • Type Reading, Organization NextStop Theatre Company, Year 2019
  • Type Workshop, Organization 5th Wall Productions, Year 2019

Production History

  • Type Community Theater, Organization Garrick Theatre, Year 2023
  • Type Community Theater, Organization Pumphouse Players, Year 2023
  • Type Professional, Organization Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Year 2023
  • Type Community Theater, Organization Midland Center for the Arts/Center Stage Theatre, Year 2022
  • Type University, Organization Virginia Commonwealth University, Year 2022

Awards

  • Risk Theatre Modern Tragedy Playwriting Competition
    Risk Theatre
    Semi-Finalist
    2021
  • NewPlayFest 2022
    American Association of Community Theatre
    Winner
    2021
  • Plays with Strong Female Leads
    Southwest Theatre Productions
    Semi-Finalist
    2020
  • 21st Century Voices
    American Stage
    Winner
    2020
  • Playwrights’ Week 2019
    The Lark
    Finalist
    2019