←Recommendations of A Typical STEM Job Interview

The thing I love about this comedy is the escalation of absurdity Sam Heyman puts the applicant (and us, by extension) through. One ridiculous inquiry after another flusters and then finally causes the potential job hire to disconnect, and the capper to the scene is a chef's kiss on top of this bonkers play. A perfect play for Zoom too.

Oh, this is a "laugh until you cry" kind of play - but, by the end, job-seekers won't be certain if they're crying because it was funny or because, though utterly absurd, it's a touch TOO relatable. I say this as someone who was asked to complete a timed mathematics assessment before interviewing for a freelance copywriting role (???). The charm of this play comes from the heightened characters, goofy dialogue, and the very straight performance from the job seeker, who lasted longer than I would have in her shoes! It's clever, irreverent, and perfect for virtual stages!

"It's really no wonder more women don't work in STEM." concludes Charlotte at the end of her comically absurd approach to Melanie's job interview. No, Charlotte, with whack jobs like you and Nigel on the loose it's a wonder anyone works in STEM. This dazzling farce is perfectly suited to the Zoom format and punctures the ridiculousness of so many job interviews with well-calibrated exaggeration.

FUNNY!

Sharp, funny, and a really smart way to create a digital theatrical space. Heyman captures the inherent absurdity of selling yourself before you can sell your soul to capitalism and — in eight pages, no less! — creates memorable characters, scenarios, and so many great jokes straight out of your worst nightmare.

Hilarious! Sam captures the feeling of being put on the defensive by people in power with a light touch and laugh-out-loud humor. I was rooting for the protagonist from the start. Now, if there could be a sequel where she sticks it to the interviewer . . .

Previously when in job interviews I have found myself thinking, "really? you think that question is relevant/important?" well Sam has taken that situation and run with it as far as lunacy can go. Melanie is just a normal girl wanting to find a job and Charlotte's 'questioning' seems to be going out of its way to make the interview process as difficult as possible! Its a chaotic and hilarious piece that a lot of audience members will relate to. Wonderful pace with brilliantly funny dialogue, what more could you ask for!

The job market IS something else. This is a hilarious interview that goes horribly awry… or does it? Sam Heyman had me chuckling throughout. Bravo!

Sam Heyman took two things that suck — Zoom and job interviews — and made comedy gold. This play is an absolute riot, a farcical skewering of the job search process. Brilliant!

This is an absolute riot! Fortunately, I’m retired now, but I remember the days of interviews that left me shaking my head. A great Zoom comedy ready for an online audience!