Get Ready for a Jukebox Musical

Generational Collisions

From the outside, the wealthy Connecticut Healy family looks like the embodiment of the American Dream. On the inside, it is another story entirely. Their world is about to be shattered by circumstances and choices that will change the trajectory of their lives and the lives of some of those around them.

Jagged Little Pill is a jukebox musical based mainly on Alanis Morissette’s edgy 1995 album of the same name, with a few songs from subsequent albums. With lyrics by Morissette and music by Morissette and Glen Ballard, and book by Diablo Cody, the musical expands the voice of one person into the voices of several people, each struggling with their own inner demons, some with addictions, some with finding their voice as they grow into adulthood.

The musical lives far above the relatively low bar of jukebox musicals in weaving a story in keeping with the lyrics and meanings of the songs, while telling a tale that is emotionally engaging as well as relevant and relatable to the times we live in. It presents a slice of contemporary life that includes gender and racial identity, opioid addiction, pornography addiction, and rape. Two generations collide in this at times very witty take on very serious subjects.

Like Rain on Your Wedding Day

Mary Jane, opioid-addicted Mom, and Steve, pornography-addicted Dad, are parents to Nick, the perfect son who was just accepted at Harvard, and Frankie, their adopted 16-year-old Black daughter, who is struggling with her identity. Frankie’s best friend Jo is also her lover, while Nick is doing his best to live up to his god-like status, but cracks are appearing in his pedestal as he sings Perfect. Bella is a girl from the other side of the tracks, who passes out at a party and is sexually assaulted by one of the wealthy boys. 

Heidi Blickenstaff is brilliant as Mary Jane, Supermom, who has a buried secret as well as the opioid addiction. She narrates the story. Her overdose scene in the second act is a highlight of the show. She writhes on the couch with a younger version of herself, as she slowly sinks into oblivion in the song Uninvited. The powerful song, You Oughta Know, features broken-hearted and angry Jo (Jade McLeod) who laments Frankie leaving them for a man – “I’m here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away.” 

The Chorus at times acts as a visual expression of the inner pain or confusion of a character. Dressed in punk/goth style costumes, they gather around a character, or one emerges from the group in a solo performance as the visual expression of the character’s feeling. Very well done.

The 8 piece band sits on an upstage platform high above the stage. Scene changes are seamless. Lighting underlines mood, as in the angry red flashing lights during Jo’s song. The fog machine might have been given a rest from time to time, but that is a minor peccadillo. All of the cast have strong voices, and the acting is top-notch.

a Story of Empathy and Great Music

While there is a great deal of human suffering depicted on stage, Jagged Little Pill offers a way through to understanding, connection and love, without ever being melodramatic or sappy. Luckily, it did not go down that road. Instead, it presents people whose stories are relatable in an engaging, sometimes in-your-face, but empathetic manner. And it has some great singing and dancing, always a plus in a musical.