A night of rock’n’roll grandeur
Far from just another jukebox musical, Jagged Little Pill – The Musical is a modern production inspired by Canadian rock icon Alanis Morrissette’s 1995 album of the same name that will not only bring veteran theatre lovers to tears, and a new legion of fans to their feet.
If you were a child of the ’80s and had your heart broken in the late ’90s, then Alanis Morissette’s You Oughta Know would most certainly have featured strongly in the symphonies of your heartbreak remedy soundtracks.
And if you didn’t, or the song wasn’t, then perhaps you may have missed out on one of the most brilliantly-penned numbers by the Canadian singer-songwriter- actress-rock-icon that so accurately portrays the pain of young romance loved and lost.
But fear not, for the rendition of that same song, performed so beautifully by stage newcomers Emily Nkomo and Maggie McKenna in Jagged Little Pill – The Musical is your chance at experiencing those same raw, gut-wrenching emotions, minus the actual heartbreak.
Receiving a rare mid-show standing ovation on opening night, that number alone is worth pulling on your favourite leather pants, drawing on some eyeliner (yes, gents included), and heading out to the theatre to experience the rock musical that took Broadway by storm in 2019 to the tune of two Tony awards (and 15 nominations) and a 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Photo: Daniel Boud
But if you need more reasons to pull out your vaccination certificate for an emotionally-charged evening in the city, then Natalie Bassingthwaighte (as lead role and mother Mary Jane Healy) in all her troubled songstress glory (not seen since her days front-lining the Rogue Traders), screen and theatre heartthrob Tim Draxl as long-suffering father and husband Steve Healy with his dream-like voice, and a brilliantly written playbook by Diablo Cody that creates a modern marvel that is less cheesy jukebox musical and more Rent-esque high-energy stage brilliance should be plenty convincing.
Whether you are or were a Morissette fan, and regardless of whether you love or loathe musical theatre, Jagged Little Pill transcends genres, expectations and prejudices, and is a world-class production addressing the very real phenomena of modern families while sending audiences roaring with gusto and joy – just what Australia needs now, more than ever!
Jagged Little Pill – The Musical is being staged at the Comedy Theatre until the end of March, and will return to Sydney in July following phenomenal demand. Bookings: jaggedmusical.com.
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