Being a wife of Henry VIII Was Hard!

Here Come Some Divas

Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived. Being a wife of Henry VIII was fraught with peril. Although Anna of Cleves (Terica Marie), wife number three chosen by Henry based on her portrait, then rejected when he met her as not living up to her “profile picture”, as if he had swiped right on Tinder, seemed to be having a great time until she died at 42. 

Six,The Musical, playing at Shea’s this week in a razzle dazzle, non-stop 80 minutes of sequins, rhinestones, diva performances, and a light show par excellence, tells the stories of the six wives, each with her own song,  as a contest with the audience (members of the court) to determine who had it the worst.

Get “Queenspired”

Each queen has a “queenspiration” in a contemporary artist. Catherine of Aragon (Gerianne Pérez), wife number one who was married to Henry the longest, is inspired by Beyoncé, Queen Bey. She is all in gold. Flirtatious Anne Boleyn (Zan Berube), in green, is inspired by Lily Allen. Each costume (by Gabriella Slade) speaks to an aspect of its queen, and all contain bits of the clothing style seen in Renaissance portraits. This is a very well researched and very clever mashup of contemporary music, history, and the reality of what it meant to be chosen by a king who had the power to banish and murder with impunity. And it is great fun.

After a group introduction, with lyrics like “Remember us from PBS”, each tells her story in song. Who had it the worst? Anne Bolyen is sure that beheading must trump divorce or dying in childbirth. But, wait, wife number five, Katherine Howard (Aline Mayagoitia) was also beheaded, as she reminds Anne. Poor Jane Seymour (Amina Faye), who swore she loved Henry, died in childbirth just over a year after her marriage. And last wife, the oft married Catherine Parr (Taylor Pearlstein) saw him through to the end, then promptly married her lover in secret.

Songs range from hip hop to electronica to soul to bubble-gum pop. Anne Boleyn “Don’t Lose Ur Head” sings with a whispery, fake innocent delivery as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Anna of Cleves rap number “Get Down”  is a rousing, in your face, “I’m the Queen of the Castle” number of a woman who takes charge of her life and parties like there is no tomorrow.

The idea that women are in competition with each other, either over who has it best or worst, is turned on its head by Catherine Parr in the song, “I Don’t Need Your Love” who asks if they really want to be defined by history  as a group, as if their lives only matter in relation to Henry. In the final song, “Six”, they declare their independence and right to be seen as individual women. Queens all in a joyful feminist declaration.

Get Ready For a Pop Show

Writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss have crafted a show with tight lyrics that clearly tell each queen’s story. Lighting design by Tim Deiling gives each queen her own colors in a brilliant display that is as much a part of the experience as the songs. Choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille is in keeping with the theme of each song.

Each of the women has a strong, powerful voice. Backed by a group of 4 excellent musicians, each brings her character to life in song and dance with such dynamism that the audience roots for each one.

Six is a shiny, gleaming pop show and history lesson with a message that is a feast for the senses whether you are sixteen or sixty, or seventy, or…