I couldn’t have loved this play more.
History … check
Feminism … check
Banging tunes … check
What more do you need?
The concept is simple. Henry VIII’s six wives have a sing-off to prove definitively which one is the best. *cough* Anne of Cleaves *cough*
A sold out event, I’ve been hearing about Six for a while now, as something that I have to see. I must admit, I resisted for a while, expecting a cheesy, overblown affair, but what I got was a tight 75- minute extravaganza of a history lesson, all tied up in a fabulous, sexy bow. OK, I didn’t learn much more than I did in GCSE history, but I did end the night thinking more about these six women than about the man who made them part of the curriculum.
We see Catherine of Aragon in a marriage of convenience, tossed aside because she couldn’t give her husband an heir; Anne Boleyn beheaded for her religious beliefs; Jane Seymour in love with the father of her son, but dying before she could spend her life with him; Anne of Cleaves married to a man who fancied her portrait, but not her; Catherine Howard beheaded because of her alleged promiscuity; and Catherine Parr who gave up the love of her life for the King and ultimately outlived him. Each of these women has their signature song, and they all spend the whole play on stage, backing each other, with an all-female band in the background.
There’s a real feeling of girl power and camaraderie, which I think is what attracted me to the show so much. The whole experience made for a roaringly good night, with the audience on their feet by the end of the performance. A whole lot of fun, and a soundtrack to enjoy afterwards. ★★★★★ @BookingAround 19th November 2019
