Divorced, beheaded, live!
Bursting with charm, humour and girl power, the modern musical ‘Six’ divulges the untold stories of Henry VIII through his six wives in an innovative and witty concert-style score.
A step away from the conventional musical style, the wives of Henry VIII are in sisterly competition to ascertain which one of them had the most tragic end to their story. Each Queen has their time to shine with their solo, the other Queens providing faultless ensemble support. The moments where all six were in perfect unison and harmony were particularly special especially in the final number “Six”, their slick and impeccably timed choreography a joy to experience. Paired with each of their incredible belts, the songs are catchy and full of melodic and rhythmical surprises.
Though not an extensive set, lighting is used as a powerful tool to depict scene changes and to reflect the mood. While the Queens remained in the same costumes throughout, the modern take on Tudor England attire is quirky and effective, each Queen having a signature colour. Props were used at times, such as glow in the dark glasses and ruffs in “Haus of Holbein”. The use of props, paired with dance and immaculate harmonies makes this number a real highlight.
The show opens with “Ex-Wives”, a punchy number which grabs the audience’s attention and introduces the Queens cleverly, building on the audience’s historical knowledge. It is clear from the opening of the show that the score is pop with various changes of pace.
The first Queen to solo is Catherine of Aragon (Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky) with an upbeat and energetic song “No Way”. McCaulsky kept the limelight during this performance, showing off her powerful but controlled belting skills and movement.
With big shoes to fill, Anne Boleyn (Baylie Carson) is up next with “Don’t Lose Ur Head”, one of the more amusing songs in the show. Carson’s childlike energy was palpable, the audience feeding off her every move. Carson’s Australian accent added a uniqueness to the role, her varied annunciation and original word placement making her Anne Boleyn feel new and fresh.
The sincerest moment in the show is “Heart of Stone”, a ballad performed by Jane Seymour (Claudia Kariuki) as an ode to Henry VIII. Kariuki’s vocals are flawless, and her facial expressions depict Jane Seymour’s grief well, despite the limited blocking on stage.
Anna of Cleves (Dionne Ward-Anderson) certainly steals the show in “Get Down”. Ward-Anderson is a fantastic talent and finds a seamless balance between humour, vocals and dance to depict an unforgettable performance with several layers. She is assisted by the other Queens and a quick costume change, making this number another fan favourite.
The tone is somewhat dampened when the audience realise that the upbeat “All You Wanna Do” performed by Katherine Howard (Koko Basigara) touches upon some heavy topics. Basigara gives a layered performance, the audience empathising with her in moments of sadness and when comedy is used to mask her pain.
Finally, the survivor, Catharine Parr (Roxanne Couch) takes the stage in “I Don’t Need Your Love”, an honest number with several changes of pace to which the Queens match accordingly. Couch has a controlled belt and while branded the least memorable by the other Queens, it is difficult to forget the passion and power of Couch’s performance.
Six the Musical is innovative, sassy and a vibrant display of female empowerment with its catchy soundtrack and varied musical style providing huge intrigue for any theatregoer.
SIX is currently playing at the Vaudeville Theatre until 29th October 2023, tickets can be purchased directly from the Six website https://www.sixthemusical.com/london/tickets
Reviewer: Maani Way
Reviewed: 10th January 2023
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★