Jagged Little Pill

Based on the Grammy-winning album by Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill is a musical that aims to break the mould. The original album featured drum machines, harmonicas, keyboards and guitar, which resulted in an alternative rock genre that was widely popular across the world. It topped the charts in 13 countries and sold 33 million copies across the world. The book for the musical is written by Academy Award winner Diablo Cody and premiered at Cambridge in 2018. Following a sell-out run, the musical is all set to debut at Broadway, with Olivier Award winner Sidi Larbi Cherkaui in charge of choreography. The production enjoyed critical acclaim following its release in 2018 and has been hailed as engaging, moving and triumphantly avoiding pitfalls that beset family dramas. The usage of Morissette’s music fits in spectacularly with the plot of the musical and makes the show all the more compelling. It tackles the themes of prescription drug addiction, sexual assault and gender identity and has been described as being extremely relevant in today’s state of affairs. What separates the show from others is that the producers are constantly working on the show making many small changes, with the goal of creating a more layered and streamlined musical.

The Story

The Healys, consisting of Steve and Mary Jane, and their two teenage children Nick and Frankie, appear to be the perfect suburban family. Mary Jane, the mother, is trying to keep everything together although it seems to be spiraling out of control. Her marriage to Steve is distant and lacking intimacy, which forces her to get hooked on to prescription drugs. Their daughter Frankie, who is adopted, feels alienated due to her mother not acknowledging her black identity. She is exploring her sexuality along with her best friend Jo, who is also gay. Nick, on the other hand, is struggling to cope up with the pressure of being the star child of the family. His close friend Andrew is accused of raping Frankie’s friend, which makes matters all the worse.

Soon, the Healys’ life is disrupted by several disturbing events, and they are forced to tackle harsh truths about their community and themselves. Will the Healys be able to emerge from this precarious situation, and change for the better? Or have they stepped too far down the slippery slope?

Good For

Fans of Social Dramas | Lovers of Family Dramas

Critics Review

“Inspired by the themes and emotions laid bare in Alanis Morissette's Grammy Award-winning album, Jagged Little Pill is an original story about pain, healing, and empowerment. “ - Broadway World