The Essentials

by Kelsey Austin

With her grieving husband Peter consumed by Sasquatch hunting, homemaker Meredith finds her voice and purpose in launching an online essential oils business. Her mother, Joyce, sees danger in this new-found independence, Peter is disturbed by Meredith’s unique way of coping, and Milton, Meredith's father, is indifferent and only wants peace from his reading chair. Ultimately, the oils overtake, and both Peter...

With her grieving husband Peter consumed by Sasquatch hunting, homemaker Meredith finds her voice and purpose in launching an online essential oils business. Her mother, Joyce, sees danger in this new-found independence, Peter is disturbed by Meredith’s unique way of coping, and Milton, Meredith's father, is indifferent and only wants peace from his reading chair. Ultimately, the oils overtake, and both Peter and Meredith choose their own paths. The family takes a hit, but Bigfoot stays by Meredith's side.

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The Essentials

Recommended by

  • Julia Everitt: The Essentials

    Great pacing. The lines are very staccato and the whole thing is just a little surreal, in the best possible way. It remind me a bit of an Albee play (I'm thinking of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in particular).

    Great pacing. The lines are very staccato and the whole thing is just a little surreal, in the best possible way. It remind me a bit of an Albee play (I'm thinking of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in particular).

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Steve Nordmark, Links Hall, Chicago, Year 2023
  • Type Reading, Organization Telling Humans Festival, Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, Year 2023