“SIX” is back in Seattle and, if the opening-night vibe at the Paramount Theatre is any indication, the love for this Broadway musical has not dimmed.
It tells the story of the six wives of Henry VIII in a reality-TV-meets-rock-concert format. The energy is high, and the crowd adoration is strong. It’s Girl Power at its strong, smart and sassy finest.
This run in Seattle is brief, closing Sunday, May 11, including a Mother’s Day matinee (hint, hint). Find ticket information here.
Your young pop-culture or musical-theater fan might already be familiar with “Six.” Mine was. She knew all of the characters, could sing all of the songs and was plotting the “perfect” outfit ahead of attending the show. (Bonus: We’re tricking kids into embracing 16th century European history! I can support that. The show program and the official “Six” website give full historical details about the six women: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr.)
Alizé Cruz as Katherine Howard in “SIX.” (Photo by Joan Marcus)
The diversity of the cast and the unabashed “girl power” vibe gave me even more to love. The cast members were all amazing singers and dancers, and the costumes were stunning. So many rhinestones. Such rich colors.
The plot is essentially this: The six women are competing in a reality-show format, singing their life stories and vying to be the one with the saddest tale. Each tells her story in words and music, sometimes getting snarky remarks (but also backup vocals) from the others. Eventually, they see how misguided it is to compete, and instead they work together on a “histo-remix.” (And yes, earlier someone also had said “herstory.”)
Tickets are going fast, so act now if you want to see this. The official age recommendation is 10 and up (no one under 5 admitted). The show runs only about 90 minutes, and there is no intermission. The sexual innuendo is fairly subtle and, although several of the wives meet violent fates, that certainly isn’t shown. There are plenty of “Don’t lose your head!” jokes, though. The music is loud and pounding, and there are strobe lights.
Note that there’s loud music, strobe lights and sexual innuendo. There’s also some history, and a chance to talk about empowerment. And by the way: it’s a great time to be a fan of women, musical theater and entertainment in general. Just a few upcoming shows to make note of:
- “Mamma Mia!” will be at the Paramount from June 10-15.
- “Bye, Bye Birdie,” the musical inspired by Elvis Presley, hits the stage at the 5th Avenue Theatre from Juene 10-29.
- “& Juliet,” the story in which Juliet does not end her life — told via pop music — will be in town July 29-Aug. 3.
If you’re looking for a deeper dive into “Six,” with its references to both history and pop culture, Smithsonian magazine did an extensive one.
