The Ballad of Little Jo
Guest Review
The remarkable new musical, The Ballad of Little Jo, tells the reimagined story of the real woman, Little Jo Monaghan. The limited facts of her story are best captured in the playbill: “When the well-liked rancher Joe Monaghan died in 1904 of pneumonia at the age of 56, his death was mourned by many in his town of Rockville, Idaho. Although he was quiet and kept mostly to himself, he had developed a reputation in his 37 years in the area as a good man and a hard worker. As his body was prepared for burial, a secret was revealed: “Little Joe” was a woman."
Intriguing. While there is documentation of her life after her arrival in Idaho in 1867, where she worked as a silver miner, rancher, field hand, and bronco buster, there is not much to explain how and why she ended up there. One can imagine other possibilities - perhaps transgender issues, or a need to escape detection by the law. Here, the writers create a narrative that might explain it. They also allude to some instances of horrifying violence, develop a very tense and emotionally believable love triangle, a child in search of his lost mother, a failing mine town responding to that failure with crude racism and mob mentality, a youthful error in judgment with horrifying sequelae, and more. As I write this, I realize that I am setting the reader up for disappointment at melodramatic overreach. It doesn’t happen. The complicated strands of the story neatly knit together in a satisfying dramatic whole.
Teal Wicks. Photo by T. Charles Erickson
The play is long - I was prepared to watch the show and tick off the songs that I would have cut. I couldn’t do it. Each song is enjoyable in its own right (not usually enough to justify retention) and serves to either promote the plot or the characters. The main characters have lots of secrets, so those internal monologues need expression. The music and lyrics do that beautifully. The musical performances are stellar. The cast is large, and the blend of their voices is thrilling. The individual singers - especially the women - Teal Wicks (as Jo Monaghan), and Jane Bruce (as Sarah Stewart Ellis) - evoke the large emotions that they are forbidden to express. Eric William Morris (as Jordan Ellis), whom we saw in the Two River Theater production of Be More Chill, embodied his character’s stage-filling charisma and steadfastness. Our concern for him kept us on tenterhooks, dreading the moment when he might learn the sad truth.
Jane Bruce and Eric William Morris. Photo by T. Charles Erickson
Loved the set by Michael Carnahan (Scenic Designer). The“pit” musicians escaped the pit, as they were (discretely) onstage. The set was changed via “ backdrops” of different quilts, crudely hung on clothesline-like apparatus that temporarily hid the pit musicians. It was perfect. The costumes by Jess Goldstein (Costume Designer) were lovely and unobtrusive. The lighting designs occasionally veered to a bit too obviously symbolic for my taste, but otherwise, the work by Jennifer Tipton (Lighting Designer) was excellent.
Daniel K. Isaac and Teal Wicks. Photo by T. Charles Erickson
The show is only going to be staged until June 25, and I predict that it will be very well attended. I am looking forward to seeing it again, with friends. This time, I plan to pay special attention to the sound design and the onstage orchestra. My review might acquire an addendum. I really hope you come see and enjoy this show, and take advantage of this remarkable gem of a theater that is Two River Theater.
Music by Mike Reid
Lyrics by Sarah Schlesinger
Book by Sarah Schlesinger, Mike Reid and John Dias
Based on the film The Ballad of Little Jo by Maggie Greenwald
Music Direction/Dance and Incidental Arrangements by John O'Neill
Choreography by Marc Kimelman
Directed by John Dias
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Guest review by Jeanne Genova-Goldstein - What do I look for in a play? I want it to let me share someone else's experience of the world. I want to learn something new. While I also indulge in pure entertainment - classic musicals, farces - they are like eating ice cream. I love ice cream, but sometimes I need a challenging play for sustenance. I love it all, even when it is bad. There is always something to learn from it.