first night: six @ The saenger theatre

First Night: Six @ The Saenger Theatre
Review by Dorian Hatchett

Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived.

A glittering pop musical for the modern era, about some very historic drama, Six introduces the ex-wives of Henry VIII in a concert for the ages. An all-female cast (Including the band, the “Ladies in Waiting”) brings down the house with humor and humanity, as the audience is led to confront some complicated truths about the way we contextualize the infamous characters throughout our history (ahem: herstory, per Catherine Parr). 

Each of the wives is styled after a modern musical inspiration. Our own idols are written in an oh-so-clever trick to make anyone without a heart of stone feel instant camaraderie with the celebrities of yesteryear. There’s enough factual history here to warrant serious attention, and enough fun to make you catch yourself singing along, long after the curtain closes. Don’t lose your head, though, because the cast encourages all the singing and clapping you wanna do, while the seamless choreography proves that you don’t have to be raised from the dead to get down, but it might help.

A royal feast for the eyes, the costumes are a techno fantasy through a tudor lens. Puffed sleeves and peplums strike a tone, metallic vinyl and sequins pull the shapes through 500 years into the future. The set is a concert stage, simple bones with dynamic lighting and a beautiful changing backdrop of Tudor arches that offer a sophisticated, almost tactile shift in emotional atmosphere along with the music.

Each queen has her own story, and you can  watch it change the visual flavor of the stage every time the focus shifts.  Without words, the set and lighting designers of this show tell the story as effectively as a Greek chorus, building suspense and mirth with equal effectiveness. You may not need our love, but you certainly have it ! 

Six: The Musical is playing at The Saenger Theatre through April 19th. Click here for show information and ticketing