By Chris Heide
In a world of amazing musical talent and innovative shows, I now have a new favorite. Jagged Little Pill is now the best Broadway musical I have ever seen. That is a monumental feat, especially considering the plethora of iconic shows that have debuted on Broadway over the last two decades. The show is now on tour and has debuted at the Paramount Theater in Seattle.
Based on Alanis Morrissette's groundbreaking album, Jagged Little Pill is mesmerizing, evocative, and jaw-dropping. The show tackles a magnitude of weighty issues including sexual assault, consent, opioid addiction, relationship issues, identify exploration, and race. While this show may be considered “too woke” for older remembers of the audience who prefer the boring nostalgia of shows like Carousel, this show is current, refreshing, and palpably uncomfortable. Art should be uncomfortable and evoke emotions. That is the essence of true art.
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Everything about this show is breathtaking. I found myself with my jaw agape numerous times throughout the show, my body filled with excitement and warmth as I was enraptured by the marvelous story unfolding in front of me. While there are many shows that tackle topical issues in a manner in a style that beats you over the head, this show is much more subtle. The complexities surrounding sexual assault and consent, as well as the stigma surrounding addiction and overdose were just two of the themes that were handled with care. Everything about this show works: the book, the stirring chorography, the gut-wrenching dialogue, and of course the transcendent music. Alanis Morrissette is a musical genius, and this show was not simple built around her songs. An authentic and important narrative was constructed in a way that the songs fit organically into the plot.
Heidi Blickenstastaff, who portrays the lead character of Mary Jane Healy is by far, one of the best actresses I have ever seen in a show. She originated the role on Broadway when the show returned post-Covid, and her talent fills the room with a palpable magnanimity. Her voice is stunning and any of her solo numbers are intoxicating, heartbreaking and soul-stirring.
Three scenes in particular stand out. The first is Mary Jane’s self-reflection that she is hitting a bottom as she struggles with opioid addiction- the choreography is ‘set in reverse’ meaning all the actions on stage appear to be rewound. It is a raw and powerful moment of self-reflection that can happen when someone hits a bottom. He second solo, set to Morrissette’s ‘Uninvited’ depicts the brutality and loneliness of an overdose. This was goosebump including. The standout performance, however, come in the wake of a sexual assault subplot. In the number, consent, and the power of the word ‘NO’ is explored. It is a stirring depiction of the #MeToo movement, and it brought me to tears.
If you have a chance to see Jagged Little Pill, you must. It is the best thing to happen on Broadway in a long time. It is not ironic that this show is now iconic.