Since SIX is a Histo-remix (history + remix) of King Henry VIII’s six wives, I thought I’d remix this little review. And tell you all you need to know to decide if you should catch it while it’s in town.
The Basics:
What’s it about? Six is the story of the six wives of King Henry VIII (8th). The wives are in a girl group and in competition with each other to see who should become the lead singer of the group. The audience is to choose the winner based on who had it the worst, being married to the king (Keep in mind, 2 of the wives were actually beheaded by King Henry VIII). The show is a contest with each wife recapping or explaining their life through upbeat pop and R&B songs.
How long is it here? Six is only in Cleveland until November 16th.
I thought Broadway shows were here for a few weeks. Is this not a Broadway show? Yes it is, it’s just not part of the KeyBank Broadway series. In fact, it won two Tony awards for Best Costume Design and Best Original Score.
Where is it playing? Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace Theater
What makes this “the show to see?”– Coming off of this government shutdown and realizing that money is tight for many of us, this question was super important to add to these reviews. I’m also understanding how heavy many of us feel due to a variety of things (politics, daylight savings, job stress, the first snow…). So why SIX? It’s fun and upbeat. It’s somewhat historical (there were six wives) and doesn’t require much thought or brainpower after a long day. It feels like you’re watching a favorite reality show, wondering who will be the big winner.
Representation matters. Are we represented? Yes, and that goes for most women. The cast is racially mixed with a variety of body types and sizes. (and great costumes…and cute boots)
What type of musical is this? It’s a contemporary musical. I wanted to say it’s a jukebox musical, but all the songs are original. The music touches on a variety of genres, R&B ballads, emo/rave, pop, and Hip-Hop. You can play the soundtrack in your car with the windows down, and most wouldn’t think they were listening to a Broadway musical.
Warnings? Posted outside the theater is the warning that there are flashing lights.
Also…
(Possible trigger warning) As the six wives try to decide who endured the most while married to the king, there are a couple of lines about the number of miscarriages each had. It’s brief, more of a historical fact. Just letting it be known.
Still not sure if the show is for you? Take this quick quiz
- Are you one of a kind or have you thought after a breakup that man will NEVER find anyone else like you?
- Have you been with a man and lost yourself by becoming part of his story?
- Do you have a group of friends/besites?
- Do you like cute boots?
- Do you like stories where women find their voices and/or reclaim the narrative?
- Have you been in a relationship that didn’t work out?
- Have you been in a relationship where the guy…let’s say…had a wandering eye or worse?
- Have you ever thought I don’t need a man, I’ve built a good life for myself?
- Do you like history or remixes?
- Do you like to interact with the shows you are watching?
- Do you like TV shows where you get to judge the talent (or people’s lives)?
- Do you like music or concerts (all types)?
- Do you like girl groups (music groups)?
- Do you like/did you like movies and shows like Waiting to Exhale, Girlfriends, or First Wives Club?
The more “yes” answers, the more reasons to see the show.
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Final considerations
Seen/Heard in the halls after the show:
“I’ve never really wanted to buy merch from and of the shows I’ve seen but I want something from this show.”
“This was an excellent show” (a lady from one group talking to someone in another group heading to the garage)
Do you leave the theater humming/singing the songs? Yes
Tissue rating?– “Not a sniffle (from me)”. You can get by without them for this one.
Who should I bring with me? I saw it by myself and totally enjoyed it (someone flaked on me, but that’s a whole different story). Families were there, even some with pre-teens and younger children. There also seemed to be some high school groups in attendance. This show is perfect for a mom-and-daughter date, girls’ nights/bestie time, or anyone who loves a good girl-power story.
Would I see it again? Yes, and this is my 2nd time seeing the show
If I miss it, is it worth catching it if it comes back, or in Akron or another city? Yes. It’s a solid show, even with different cast members
Are tickets still available to see it in Cleveland? Yes
Leave a comment and let us know what you thought of the show, or this “quick” version for theater reviews.