Reality Is Strong Medicine in JAGGED LITTLE PILL
“You live. You Learn.” It’s a simple truth, even if life is often more complex and confusing than the four words suggest. This truth is explored in sometimes surprising, always heartfelt ways in the musical Jagged Little Pill, with music by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard and a book by Diablo Cody. Tesseract Theatre’s terrific production embraces the story and the music to explore the deeper truth behind the lyrical refrain.
At first glance, the Healy family is a picture of success and contentment. Husband Steve is doing well at work and moving up the corporate ladder; son Nick was accepted to Harvard, fulfilling a lifelong dream; adopted daughter Frankie is excelling in her own way at school and socially involved in a number of causes; and, despite being in a bad accident, mom Mary Jane hardly missed a beat and is steadily recovering. That’s what Mary Jane chronicles in her annual holiday letter anyway, even as a more volatile truth reveals itself between the lines of cheerful prose. Steve works too much and is struggling to connect with his wife. Nick feels pressured to always be the dutiful, accomplished, and reliable son. Frankie is exploring her sexuality and full of questions about herself. And Mary Jane is still in pain and finding it hard to get refills of the medication she needs with increasing frequency. A new love interest, the sexual assault of a friend at a party, and a bottle of pills from a dealer on a street corner expose the reality behind the façade, sending the family in a downward spiral from which they may not recover.
Photos by Florence Flick
Director Brittanie Gunn leads a talented cast through the tangled plot points with a clear understanding of the material, creating moments of emphasis and reflection that hit on an emotional level while delivering a compelling story. Loren Goudreau is heartbreaking as Mary Jane, a woman in denial of her own addiction. Kinya Kairigi is her perfect foil as daughter Frankie. Full of youthful impatience, Frankie dives “head over feet” into her passions, often without thought to the consequences. Goudreau and Kairigi fully commit to their characters’ flaws while embracing their motivations with care and underlying kindness. Each is trying to figure out the right way to move forward, leading to conflict that’s relatable to anyone who has even momentarily struggled in their relationship with a parent or child. Kevin O’Brien and Stephen Henley are sympathetic as dad Steve and son Nick, and each confronts their own struggles with honesty and trepidation. Jabari Boykin, Milo Garlich, and Lauren Tenenbaum are fantastic in supporting roles, with genuine performances that add depth and complexity to the story.
The songs of Morrissette weave their way between the unravelling threads of the story, creating an emotionally charged plot that’s a realistic reflection of a family in crisis. Song selection adds emphasis to each scene, underscoring the themes of self-discovery and growth that permeate the musical. Music director Leah Schultz ensures the band keeps the pace moving while adding tone and texture that support the story. Strong harmonies are complemented by solid choreography from Ella Drake and Ruben Medina, particularly in “Lancer’s Party (So Pure)” and “Uninvited,” which feature solo dances by Lillian Cooper that reflect turmoil and uncertainty with graceful anguish. Other standout numbers include Goudreau masking her truth in “Smiling,” Henley wrestling with the pressure to be “Perfect,” Kairigi and Boykin acknowledging the obvious in “Ironic,” the rebellious uncertainty of Kairigi in “Unprodigal Daughter,” and the pain of Goudreau in “Uninvited” and Tenenbaum in “No.” However, it’s the dramatic impact and sting of betrayal that comes through Garlich’s controlled anger in “You Oughta Know” that may linger long after you leave the theater.
Photos by Florence Flick
Alanis Morissette’s music provides the framework for a contemporary story about the family and personal secrets we too often choose to hide, not just from the outside world but ourselves. Tesseract Theatre’s outstanding production captures the raw power and intensity of the music and translates it into a compelling story. The subject matter is suitable for mature teens and adults, and the show will appeal to anyone who appreciates authentic, contemporary storytelling with a rock and roll score. Jagged Little Pill shines a light on the lies we tell ourselves and then encourages us to embrace those flaws and failings to help us heal. It’s a powerful production made more real through the intimacy of the Marcelle Theater and a company committed to storytelling that resonates long after the final bow.
