Six the Musical is a pop musical about the six wives of Henry VIII. It debuted in 2017 and quickly became a hot ticket in London and New York. With catchy songs, powerful performances, and a modern, girl-power message, Six has attracted a passionate fanbase. But between the hype and often expensive tickets, you may wonder: is Six really worth seeing? Here’s a look at what makes this musical special, its strengths and weaknesses, and who should consider catching a performance of this Broadway and West End hit.
What is Six the Musical and why is it so popular?
Six is a pop musical that retells the stories of King Henry VIII’s six wives – Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr – from the women’s perspectives.
The premise is that the six queens band together during a song competition concert, somewhat like a pop girl group. Each queen gets a chance to tell her story through song in the show. The tunes cover a range of pop genres from power ballads to rap, R&B, and more.
So what makes Six so popular? A few key factors:
- The music is infectious. The songs are catchy pop bangers with clever lyrics and impressive vocals from the queens.
- The message resonates. Six takes these oft-overlooked women from history and gives them agency, strength, and community. The “girl power” theme connects well with modern audiences.
- The performances are stellar. Six requires powerhouse vocals and charisma from the lead actresses, and fans rave about the talent in every cast.
- The staging is simple but effective. With a minimalist set, the focus stays on the queens. Creative lighting, costumes, and choreography round out the show.
- It’s short and fast-paced. The production is only 75 minutes with no intermission, keeping energy and momentum high throughout.
In short, Six has found the recipe for a smash hit contemporary musical. The music is infectious, the story empowers its heroines, and the whole show is an easy-to-enjoy, feel-good experience for audiences. It’s no wonder fans have become obsessed and made Six a huge word-of-mouth success.
Strengths of Six the Musical
Let’s look closer at some of the specific strengths that make Six so powerful:
The music
Without a doubt, the catchy pop score is the backbone of Six’s success. Writer Toby Marlow and composer Lucy Moss crafted an impressive set of songs that both stand alone as pop songs and propel the storytelling. The music pulls from genres like pop, choral chamber pop, R&B, electro pop, pop rock, power pop, and rap.
Every queen gets a signature tune that shows off her personality – from Catherine of Aragon’s Beyonce-esque “No Way” to Anna of Cleves’ sing-song rap jam “Get Down.” And the group numbers like “Six” and “Haus of Holbein” provide showstopping musical moments.
The lyrics are cheeky, profound, inspiring, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. Lots of historical wordplay and modern slang keep things fast and fun. Overall, the music gets audiences hooked from the opening number to the epic final song.
The queens’ stories
Rather than focusing on Henry, Six flips the narrative to spotlight his wives. We get to learn their backgrounds, desires, hardships, strengths, and more.
Catherine of Aragon emerges as a confident queen who was unjustly cast aside. Anne Boleyn is a ambitious, stylish singer determined to leave a legacy. Jane Seymour is a loving romantic. Anna of Cleves embraces independence and self-acceptance. Katherine Howard longs for agency and her own voice. Catherine Parr supports and uplifts the other queens as a scholar and reformer.
By revealing these women as complex individuals, not just Henry’s wives, Six provides a fresh, female-driven lens on a familiar historical story.
The staging and choreography
While simple, Six’s staging is very effective. Queens take turns moving to center stage to sing, while others watch from chairs at the sides. This keeps the action focused. Creative lighting shifts the mood and energy.
The choreography stands out too. It’s heavy on attitude – struts, hair flips, voguing, hip swaying. During group numbers, each queen has a signature dance move that fits her character. The choreo isn’t overly complicated, but it’s full of sass and personality, enhancing the strengths of the queens even more.
The tone
Six walks a fine line tonally. Though it deals with weighty themes like relationship abuse, injustice, beheadings, and more, the show maintains an overwhelmingly fun, upbeat energy. The queens bond together and claim their power. The ending is cathartic, not tragic.
Flashes of cheeky humor keep things from getting too heavy. The tone is bold, empowering, and celebratory overall – you’ll walk out of Six feeling pumped up and inspired!
Weaknesses of Six
As stellar as Six is, no show is perfect. Here are a couple areas where Six falls slightly short:
Repetitive score
The pop score is undoubtedly Six’s strength, but it does start sounding similar after a while. Lots of songs are mid-tempo pop ballads in similar keys, and the rap breakdowns start blurring together too. A few more change-ups in genres, keys, and styles could make the music feel more dynamic from start to finish.
Thin character development
Because Six crams six full backstories into just 75 minutes, some queens’ stories feel a bit rushed. Key moments that shaped them get just one quick song rather than being explored more fully.
For example, we get the gist of Anne Boleyn being beheaded, but there’s so much more depth that could have been plundered there. Some songs end abruptly before we get below the surface emotion. Spreading the stories over two acts could allow more time to peel back layers on each queen.
Confusion for those unfamiliar with the history
A basic knowledge of Henry VIII’s wives helps gain context in Six. Without any background, some plot points could be confusing. Why is it significant Anne wears a necklace with a “B”? Why does Jane Seymour’s song mention her giving Henry a son?
A quick history primer before the show could help those completely unfamiliar with these historic figures and events. The show itself only gives a brief surface introduction to each queen.
Who should see Six and who should skip it?
Six is a show with mass appeal, but certain audiences will be especially drawn to its strengths:
See it if you like…
- Pop music – The pop soundtrack will be heaven for pop fans.
- Contemporary musicals like Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, etc – Six has a similar vibe with modern music and sensibilities.
- Female-driven stories – The queens are the unequivocal stars here.
- Over-the-top performances – Six demands huge energy and vocals from its cast.
- Modern feminist takes on history – The “girl power” theme is strong here.
Maybe skip it if you prefer…
- Subtle, reserved musical styles – The songs are big and bombastic.
- Understated acting performances – Subtlety is not the queens’ strong suit.
- Complex villains and heroes – Henry VIII is treated more as a plot device than a fully formed character.
- Lots of set, costume, and staging spectacle – Six’s production is relatively minimal.
At the end of the day, anyone can enjoy Six. But those who love pop divas and female-centric stories will find it most rewarding. Teens and young adults are also ideal audiences, relating well to the queens’ journeys of self-discovery and empowerment.
How does Six compare to Hamilton and other hit musicals?
Six shares some common threads with other modern smash hit musicals like Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and more. Let’s look at how it compares:
Hamilton
| Six | Hamilton |
|---|---|
| Pops stars into leading roles | Pops stars into leading roles |
| Colorblind casting | Colorblind casting |
| Reclaims overlooked historical narratives | Reclaims overlooked historical narratives |
| Modern vocals and music styles | Modern vocals and music styles |
| Minimal sets and staging | Minimal sets and staging |
Like Hamilton, Six features modern music, inclusive casting, and a perspective-flipping take on history. Both shows rely on electric performers rather than lavish sets. However, Six has an all-female narrative, while Hamilton centers on men. And Six is much shorter without an intermission.
Dear Evan Hansen
| Six | Dear Evan Hansen |
|---|---|
| Youthful characters | Youthful characters |
| Popular music styles | Popular music styles |
| Empowering, cathartic message | Empowering, cathartic message |
| Minimal sets | High-tech multimedia sets |
Much like Dear Evan Hansen, Six features young protagonists and a soundtrack that appeals to contemporary pop fans. Both shows ultimately inspire and uplift audiences. However, Dear Evan Hansen relies more on flashy technical elements in its storytelling.
Other modern musicals
Six also shares DNA with other hits like Hadestown, Waitress, Beetlejuice, and Come From Away. All feature electric scores, compact staging, inclusive casting, and messages that resonate with current cultural conversations.
Like Six, they also rely heavily on charismatic acting performances versus elaborate sets. These shows are less costly to produce than musicals with huge technical needs or big ensemble casts.
How accessible and inclusive is Six?
One standout aspect of Six is its accessibility and inclusivity for theatergoers:
Non-traditional casting
Since race plays no role in these roles, Six features colorblind casting. Queens of all races and ethnicities can and do portray the roles. Similarly, the all-female ensemble includes women of all backgrounds. This inclusive approach allows the talents to match the characters, rather than limiting characters due to race.
Gender-diverse casting
Six also opens its casting to people of all gender identities, not only cisgender women. Again, since gender identity does not affect one’s ability to play these roles, opening up the casting allows for the most talented performers to shine.
Accessible for newcomers
With its pop score and brief run time, Six is a show that’s highly accessible for those new to theater. The music feels familiar, the story is easy to grasp, and intermission-free 2 hour run time goes by swiftly. For young people especially, Six is a great first Broadway show.
Affordable tickets
Since it has minimal sets, costumes, and effects compared to large ensemble musicals, Six is also relatively affordable theatre. Tickets tend to run 15-20% cheaper than other hit musicals. Limited-view rush tickets help make the show accessible too.
Tours nationally and internationally
Between its North American tour, West End production, and productions globally, Six has expanded its reach worldwide. This allows the show’s messages of inclusivity and female empowerment to inspire audiences far and wide.
What audiences are saying about Six
Six has earned an avid fanbase obsessed with the show. Here’s a sample of what real-life audience members are saying about their experiences with Six:
“One of the best shows I’ve seen in years. The music is so catchy, the queens are hilarious and empowering, and the whole thing feels fresh and relevant. I loved it!” – Amanda, New York
“I laughed, I cried, I cheered. Six sends you on an emotional rollercoaster in the best possible way. The queens really popped off the stage with amazing vocals and presence. Forget Hamilton, Six is my new musical theatre obsession!” – James, London
“As someone who normally finds musicals corny, I was shocked by how much I enjoyed Six. The music is legit great – like, I immediately downloaded the album after. The story is fun, fast-paced, and you get really invested in the queens’ journeys.” – Julia, Boston
“My teenage daughters BEGGED me to take them to Six, and I was really impressed. The pop music had us all jamming in our seats, and I loved how it centered complex, strong women rather than another male power figure.” – Carol, Chicago
“Such an empowering, uplifting show with an inclusive cast. The queens are so lovably sassy, it’s hilarious. Everything – the singing, choreo, costumes – is top-notch. I had the best time at Six!” – Lauren, Los Angeles
Deciding if Six is worth the hype
Given the buzz around Six, is it worth splurging on tickets for yourself? Here are some key questions to consider:
- Are you a fan of pop music and pop divas? If so, Six’s soundtrack will likely delight you.
- Do you enjoy high-energy singing and dancing performances? The production is light on spectacle, heavy on impressive vocals and choreography.
- Are you intrigued by historical stories told from female perspectives? Six shines a spotlight on Henry VIII’s oft-overlooked wives.
- Do you like shows with a fast pace and no intermission? At just 75 minutes, Six maintains momentum throughout.
If you answered yes to the above, Six will likely impress and entertain you. The cast albums give a taste of the score, but nothing beats seeing this energetic show live.
However, if you prefer subtle, nuanced musical storytelling, you may find Six too loud and bombastic at times. And without at least a basic knowledge of Henry VIII, some plot points may be confusing.
Regardless, it’s clear why Six has developed a passionate fanbase. For most musical theatre lovers, especially those craving female-led stories with a contemporary vibe, Six is absolutely worth the price and hype.
Conclusion
Six the Musical puts the spotlight on Henry VIII’s oft-overlooked wives with clever pop songs, big vocals, girl power themes, and an accessible 75-minute run time. While the score starts sounding repetitive and some character development seems rushed, strengths like its catchy music, inclusive casting, and uplifting tone have made Six a hit with audiences and critics alike.
Fans of pop divas, contemporary musicals, and female-driven historical stories will find Six well worth the frequently expensive tickets and hype. For musical theatre lovers craving something fresh, fearlessly feminine, and bursting with energy, Six delivers a fun night of “her-storical” musical storytelling you won’t regret. Just be prepared to be “six-sessed” with the soundtrack for weeks afterwards!
