Brisk, brash, and boisterous, Six the Musical returns to hold court with a fresh Australian tour.
Playing constantly in the West End and Broadway, the quick return season of Six the Musical is testament to the vociferous demands of devoted Australian fans. The wickedly witty show will most likely retain its popularity until there one day comes a time when theatre is overrun with stories of female empowerment; we are not there yet.
Written and developed in 2016 and 2017 by Cambridge University students Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, Six the Musical owes a small nod to Hamilton for the reclaiming of history with a new lens but is ultimately a unique piece of theatrical entertainment in its own right. Whereas Hamilton reimagines America’s founding fathers as people of colour, Six the Musical is a musical fantasy in which each of the wives of Henry VIII can perform together in a flashy concert.
Ostensibly structured around a singing competition based on the popular vote, the musical is sly in its subversive introduction of deeper meaning amongst the incredibly infectious tunes and fiendishly funny lyrics. The competition takes an all too believable twist, with the young women competing on the basis of who suffered most. It is not until final wife Catherine Parr takes centre stage that the centrality of everyone’s relation to Henry VIII is pointed out. Newly empowered, the six women finish by reclaiming herstory from their own central perspective.
Marlow and Moss cleverly connect the Tudor period with the present day, creatively using modern language for the adroit lyrics. In an inspired sequence, the selection of Anna of Cleves based on a painting is compared to swiping left or right on a dating app. Based on the initial competitiveness between the women, there is licence to be somewhat free with the facts but the issues facing women and the link between societal value and self worth land with far greater impact than a dry, historically accurate work.
Winning the 2022 Tony Award for Best Score, Marlow and Moss’ music is filled with delightful ear-worms. Lyrics are delightfully amusing even on repeated listenings, especially when performed as well as they are here.
Strongly supporting the theme of female power, musical director Claire Healy is joined on stage by a terrific all-female band, known collectively as the The Ladies in Waiting.
Originally directed by Moss and Jamie Armitage, associate director Sharon Millerchip works with a mostly new set of performers to capture the peak energy and deadpan humour that make the show such a blast to watch. The six performers are incredibly well matched and clearly support each other absolutely despite the snarky competition narrative. The slick choreography of Carrie-Anne Ingrouille is drilled to perfection by resident choreographer Cristina D’Agostino.
Lighting design of Tim Deiling is a key aspect of the visual appeal of Six the Musical, with the distinctive costumes of Gabriella Slade adding dazzling spectacle of their own.
Kimberley Hodgson begins proceedings with charismatic confidence as Catherine of Aragon, readily channeling Beyoncé-like bravado with “No Way.”
Inspired by the cheeky pop stylings Miley Cyrus, Deirdre Khoo brings a sparkle all of her own to particularly catchy pop ditty “Don’t Lose Ur Head.”
Original Australian cast member Loren Hunter returns as Jane Seymour, perfectly capturing the radiant elegance that reminds us why the world first fell in love with Celine Dion.
Statuesque Zelia Rose Kitoko exudes the sassy confidence of Rihanna as she lists the riches of life freely available to Anna of Cleves in “Get Down.”
Chelsea Dawson sashays with the perky presence of Ariana Grande, the upbeat bop of “All You Wanna Do” deliberately at odds with her tale of sexual manipulation.
Giorgia Kennedy brings the sextet of featured solos home with a more mellow Alicia Keys vibe, beginning the shift away from male dependence for the Queens with “I Don’t Need Your Love.”
A natural choice for lovers of Wicked and & Juliet, Six the Musical is sure to attract repeat viewings from its earlier season as well as drawing new aficionados to its unique brand of pop pleasure.
Six the Musical plays at Comedy Theatre, Melbourne until 20 October 2024. Sing-along performance: 5pm Sunday 15 September 2024. For tickets, click here.
Six the Musical plays at Theatre Royal, Sydney from 25 October 2024. Sing-along performance: 5pm Sunday 1 December 2024. For tickets, click here.
Six the Musical plays at Playhouse Theatre, Brisbane from 2 January 2025. Sing-along performance: 5pm Sunday 2 February 2025. For tickets, click here.
Photos; James D. Morgan – Getty Images