Jagged Little Pill comes to Melbourne
Jagged Little Pill may sound heavy on paper but the pay off, after various reckonings and realisations, is surprisingly uplifting.
Entertainment
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Jagged Little Pill is a timely piece about a community that goes through trauma, and emerges stronger, with the catharsis creating love and connection.
It could easily apply to the past two years of hurt and isolation, and a need to reconnect.
However, in this instance, the Broadway musical, set against the songs of music of Alanis Morissette, and story by Diablo Cody, is about a family, and community, facing up to complicated truths over issues including sexual assault, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and opioid addiction.
That sounds heavy on paper and, commendably, Jagged Little Pill, which opened at the Comedy Theatre on Sunday, doesn’t sugar coat serious topics.
But the pay off, after various reckonings and realisations, is surprisingly uplifting.
Natalie Bassingthwaighte anchors Jagged Little Pill as Mary Jane, an unhappily married mother of two teenage children, one adopted, while struggling with painkiller addiction.
Her unravelling, while keeping up appearances and sinking further into delusion and denial, is powerfully framed by the song, Forgiven.
Maggie McKenna’s teenager Jo should have more stage time, but makes a sizeable impact with a searing performance of the jilted lover anthem, You Oughta Know, which received a mid-show standing ovation on Sunday.
But newcomer Grace Miell is the standout in Jagged Little Pill. Her portrayal of teenage rape victim Bella is measured, emotional, and raw.
Miell’s reading of the song Predator is intense, but it’s a quieter moment when she asks “When will I feel normal again?” that absolutely breaks your heart.
Jagged Little Pill is not an easy ride, but it deserves attention. Indeed, as the famous Alanis Morissette song says, you live, you learn.
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