Theater Review: Jagged Little Pill

You may think Jagged Little Pill is another jukebox musical, full of familiar songs to draw crowds in. Well, that is definitely not the case. Unlike jukebox musicals, Jagged Little Pill really embraces Alanis Morisette’s music and tells a brand new story: one that is complex and messy and real.

The Healy family is picture perfect…but as we all know, pictures only show what the taker wants you to see. Matriarch Mary Jane (Elizabeth Stanley in a very solid and riveting performance) is the epitome of Suburban Mom. She goes to spin class, supports her family, and tries to do everything right. Her husband Steve (Sean Allan Krill) is a successful lawyer; her son Nick (Derek Klena) is a star athlete and high school senior headed to Harvard; her daughter Frankie (Celia Rose Golding) is a fierce social justice advocate.

Behind the perfect picture? Mary Jane was in a car accident which introduced her to pain pills. Steve works an insane amount of hours that he’s hardly home so his marriage is suffering. Nick has always done what his parents wanted that he doesn’t actually know what he wants so, testing the waters, he goes to a drunken party and where his best friend Andrew (Logan Hart) rapes his other friend Bella (Kathryn Gallagher). Frankie, who happens to be black and adopted, is itching to break free from the confines of her town—and family—so she champions a whole host of causes and is involved in a love triangle between her best friend (and current paramour) Jo (Lauren Patten) and hot new guy Phoenix (Antonio Cipriano whose vocals are like butter). In short, there are a lot of storylines to follow in Jagged Little Pill.

Celia Rose Golding (as Frankie) and Lauren Patten (as Jo) with the ensemble. Photo credit: Matthew Murphy

Despite tying everything together, Jagged Little Pill does feel a bit too long because of all the characters we have to look in on to make the overall story feel complete. Screenwriter Diablo Cody wrote the show and does an admirable job connecting all the multitude of storylines to one another, but it’s still a long haul to the end (especially when the show attempts to address race, #metoo, sexuality, the opioid crisis, etc. all in two-and-a-half hours).

Director Diane Paulus uses (in typical Paulus fashion) dance and movement in an integral way. An ensemble of dancers express many of the inner emotions of our lead characters throughout the show. Particularly moving and poignant is when the dancer representing Mary Jane and Mary Jane herself work in tandem.

Another great piece of Jagged Little Pill is, of course, the music. Integrating Alanis Morissette’s music felt natural, and most of the lyrics fit nicely into each scene (Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard wrote the show’s music). From “Ironic” and “Head Over Feet” to “That I Would be Good” and “You Learn,” all of the performers were vocally wonderful, especially Lauren Patten’s powerhouse voice. Each song she sings left the audience cheering (“You Oughta Know” is an energetic, amazing moment). Overall, there isn’t a dud song or performance in the whole show. It’s definitely a cast album you’ll want to add to your collection.

And that is the main reason why Jagged Little Pill is so good. Despite the issues with the length and amount of storylines and issues it touches on, the music and performances are just so stellar. Indeed, you’ll leave Jagged Little Pill singing iconic songs and thinking about what you’ve just seen.

Jagged Little Pill is playing at the Broadhurst Theatre. For more information and tickets, click here. 

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy