MLM Is For Murder (Or, Your Side Hustle Is Killing Us)

MLM Is for Murder (Or Your Side Hustle Is Killing Us) has one of the longest titles of 2023, but had one of the shorter preparation periods. A replacement for a season that couldn’t be cast, director Rodney Stickells-Palmer offered this relatively new play as a substitute show. 

Minerva Ross, bored with her Graphic Design job in Washington DC, starts a podcast about female killers. Meanwhile Felicity Evanston, Minerva’s high school mean girl and a devout Mormon living in Utah embarks on a career selling leggings for multi-level marketing company “Linen and Fate”. When Linen and Fate sellers begin to be murdered, the two worlds come together.

This is a very American show, with lots of jokes centred around Mormonism and Utah (some of which are very funny if you know anything about Utah). Many of these jokes were failing to land, not because of poor delivery, but rather due to audience unfamiliarity with the subject or because the use of Australian accents removed us from the world. 

The show demands multiple and complex settings. The use of the revolve was a good idea to try and facilitate smooth changes but wasn’t quite achieving its aims on opening night. There was some lovely ring of truth detail in the sets and props were well sourced. Shelly Miller’s lighting is functional and serves the show well.

Great effort from the cast. Ali McNara anchors the show well as jaded career girl Minerva - likeable and believable. She creates a believable relationship with wife Sienna, very capably played by Erin Shay-Horrigan. Carly Ranger channels her best Regina George as faux sweet Felicity - bringing style and believability. Fiona Forster is in her element in a succession of fun cameos and a huge variety of wigs, adding oomph at every appearance (although I feel that she should have also played another cameo, that while nicely played by Ali McNamara would have had greater impact played by Fiona).

Lone male Liam Smith gives a solid performance as Felicity’s husband - sometimes the lone voice of reason.

While this show felt a little undercooked in its first week, a dedicated and capable cast should allow the production to really hit its strides during the run.

An interesting and fun Australian Premiere. Great to see a new show and something a little different for Garrick.

Kimberley Shaw