SIX @ Winspear Opera House (Broadway Dallas)
—Review by Chris Sanders
A colleague of mine asked if they should bring their partner, who isn’t the biggest fan of musicals, to see Six. As someone who ADORES a musical with a good bop and an even better message: Yes.
So I present, in no particular order, SIX good reasons to see SIX:
1. The Costumes
I love themes in plays, and the costumes in SIX play on several of them. First off, the costumes for each Queen follow an almost rainbow pattern. Catherine of Aragon is in Gold, Anne Boleyn in Green, Jane Seymour in White, Anna of Cleves in Red, Katherine Howard in Purple, and Catherine Parr in Blue. The metallic gleam of the costumes (the work of designer Gabriella Slade, who won the Tony for them) create a look that’s a cross between Tudor England and Pop Princess in Vegas—which perfectly fits the vibe of the show. However, my favorite parts of the design are the cut of each outfit and the accent details. Each costume is designed with a stiff quality, almost as if each queen were plucked from a deck of playing cards. The game you are playing is to pick which royal had the hardest time with Henry VIII. Spoilers: They all did. But in this show, they look fabulous while reliving it.
2. The Music
Now you may be thinking: “Well great Chris, but I’m seeing a musical, not a fashion show.” And that’s...fair. What’s not fair is to discount the music just because the spectacle of the show is so fantastic. Writer/composers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss won the Tony Award for Best Original Score for SIX, and the music lineup is inventive. SIX’s 16th-century queens perform songs in the many styles of 21st-century pop princesses.
If you’re a fan of Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson, you’ll love Catherine of Aragon. More into the sound of Avril Lavigne, Lily Allen, and Miley Cyrus? You will adore Anne Boleyn. Dig the dulcet tones of Adele and Celine Dion? Jane Seymour’s song may be your favorite.
If you enjoy Lorde, Nicki Minaj or Gaga, Anna of Cleves is the queen for you. Had this musical been produced 15 years ago, Katherine Howard would have been played by Britney Spears herself. And Catherine Parr is on par with the song styles of Alicia Keys and Emeli Sande. If you like the music of Femme Pop Stars, SIX is the show for you.
3. The Band
The Divine Feminine Energy continues with the band, made up of Katie Coleman as conductor and keyboardist, Sterlyn Termine slapping the bass, Liz Faure playing guitar, and Caroline Moore on the drums. They rocked, literally and figuratively.
4. The Mega-SIX
The entire cast—Cecilia Snow (alternating for Gerianne Pérez), Zan Berube, Amina Faye, Terica Marie, Aline Mayagoitia, and Sydney Parra—were powerhouses. Every one of them had a moment when they brought the house down. Amazing singers, dancers (great choreography from Carrie-Anne Ingrouille), actors, and just overall outstanding artists.
5. The History
If 21st-century music does little for you, 16th-century history might be your way into the show. Each queen goes into the painful, traumatizing, even downright bloody details of their particular relationship with Henry VIII. What was particularly joyful for me, was how my theater/trivia knowledge of Shakespeare and the War of the Roses came in handy.
At the end of the play, it was asked “what were the names” of the less-known wives of Henry the Seventh, Sixth, and Fifth? (Elizabeth of York, Margaret of Anjou, and Catherine of Valois respectively). I knew them because each of these queens has a dramatic monologue in one of the Shakespeare plays about their husbands. They left a mark with me. Still, the point is that the SIX wives of this Henry are, by far, the most remembered.
6. The Meta Message
The message is one that would make Henry the Eighth (or VIII if you can read Roman numerals) go into a serious pout. Today, he’s not celebrated for his conquests or other kingly achievements, but because we cheer, relate to, and mourn for all the great women in his life—SIX wives and TWO daughters—who were honestly far more interesting than he was. In the style of the period in which the characters lived, there are many asides to the audience, tongue in cheek references that tell us more about what’s happening. SIX pokes fun at itself while putting on this pop concert with a plot. It’s a great, good time for everyone.
WHEN: Through December 25
WHERE: WInspear Opera House
WEB: broadwaydallas.org
