The story of King Henry VIII and his six wives is arguably the defining narrative of Tudor England. Full of scandals, divorces and beheadings, what’s not to love?
However, since history is wrapped up in patriarchal narratives, Henry’s ex-wives never got the chance to voice their stories. Until now.
Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, SIX: The Musical brilliantly flips the historical narrative on its head as the six monarchs take the stage with pizzazz to reclaim their own versions of “her-story.”
All while staying loyal to the original Broadway interpretation, the cast and crew of Broadway Across Canada’s SIX injected their own passion, flair and personality to bring this high-energy show to life in all its glory.
SIX never pretends to be a thought-provoking and profound musical — and that’s exactly what it has going for it. With bright lights, dynamic choreography and grandiose vocals, the musical boasts an immersive, concert-like experience from the moment the queens strut on stage shouting, “how’re you doing, Ottawa?” as if this is just another stop on their royal tour.
But among the ex-wives, whose story is the best? The most tragic? The most sensational? Bonus points for beheadings and lasting trauma, of course. And as the queens announce, only one can be crowned victorious.
Each queen takes a turn in the spotlight, backed by the rocking all-female band dubbed the Ladies in Waiting, to plead their case as to why they should win.
As Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Kristina Leopold perfectly embodied her character’s defiance while fighting marriage annulment in “No Way.” Cassie Silva as Anne Boleyn then chronicled the events leading to her infamous beheading with flair and humour in “Don’t Lose Ur Head.”
As Jane Seymour, Kelly Denise Taylor took the stage showcasing her immense vocal range in “Heart of Stone” — a strong and moving ballad serving as a fresh contrast from the high-energy opening numbers.
While the ex-wives are vying for an individual crown, this show thrives due to its strong queenly ensemble. Their tight-knit chemistry shone particularly bright in “Haus of Holbein,” as the monarchs came together to imagine an on-stage Tinder session of Henry sorting through portraits by German painter Hans Holbein to find his fourth wife.
While this number’s electro-beat music and bright lights can easily become loud and disjointed, the ensemble’s cohesiveness brought the threads of this chaotic number together with over-the-top energy and dynamic movements. Wearing chic neon neck ruffs and sunglasses, they produced one of the most memorable moments of the show.
As Henry’s portrait contest-winner and fourth wife, Danielle Mendoza as Anna of Cleves then took centre stage with a smooth voice and swagger in “Get Down” while basking in the riches she was granted after being divorced from Henry.
Alizé Cruz’s jaw-dropping vocal runs then reigned supreme in Katherine Howard’s “All You Wanna Do” — a song filled with clever double-entendres detailing Katherine’s ascent to queenhood while being taken advantage of by several men.
Adriana Scalice’s Catherine Parr was the last to step into the spotlight to deliver the feminist anthem “I Don’t Need Your Love,” bringing vulnerability — and later, empowerment — as she resists marrying Henry out of social obligation.
The cast wasn’t the only thing glittering bright. Gabriella Slade’s Tony award-winning costume designs brought a modern and bedazzled interpretation to traditional queenly wear, producing visually stunning looks and colours unique to each queen.
In a moment of feel-good female empowerment, the queens realize they’re more than women who decided to marry King Henry VIII. What about the books they authored? And their fights for women’s rights and education? And why are they just known as the “ex-wives”?
In a performance wrought with passion, energy and resilience, it was clear the cast and production team understood this mission to reclaim history more than ever, inspiring the next generation of female change makers to claim their own stories in the process.
Presented by Broadway Across Canada, SIX ran at the National Arts Centre from May 21 to 26.
Featured image by Joan Marcus.
