Retellings of old stories in modern styles in nothing new. Stories like Kiss Me Kate and West Side Story were not surprises in their eras, and we’ve seen Shakespeare transported to just about every locale imaginable. Hell, even historical events told with a modern twist seem old hat nowadays thanks to Hamilton‘s smash success. So when I went into Six, the latest offering Broadway in Austin was kind enough to bring to Austin stages, fresh off its successful runs on both the West End and Broadway, I was ready to have a pleasant evening of entertainment and little more. Color me surprised when I’m leaving more electrified, and moved, than I’ve been by a musical in some time. SIX is a bolt of energy straight to the brain, a wild, frantic, and eccentric take on the lives of the six wives of Henry the VIII, that also isn’t afraid to bring the emotion when needed.
It’s difficult to put into words why SIX works as well it does, but at the end of the day it comes down to commitment. The show knows when to keep things sly and witty, but it also knows when to crank up the sincerity dial, knowing that you can’t tell the story of a monarch who ruled for 25 years in the same style as a woman who died by beheading at age 18. Indeed, one of the delights of the show is seeing how each of the six powerful performances tackle each of the queens in wildly different ways: whether it be the bubblegum pop of Anne Bolyn’s “Don’t Lose Your Head”; the soaring soul power of Jane Seymour’s “Heart of Stone”; Anna of Cleaves’ synth-pop banger “Get Down”; or any of the myriad fun, flirty, powerful, emotional, and/or inspiring numbers that these six performers belt.
There’s nothing quite like Six. Part revue, part history lesson, part concert, this pop-laden recounting of the lives of Henry’s wives is much more than the sum of its parts. Everything from the flashy, energizing sets; to the simple, but thoughtful costume design; to the whip-smart choreography; and of course the sextet of stellar performance all work towards the goal of invigorating the audience. It’s almost guaranteed you’ll be leaving the theatre tapping your toe and humming at least one of the songs, ready to tell everyone you know about it.
AUSTIN ARTS WATCH 