By Jesse Chaffey from https://scenestr.com.au/

A musical. . . A pop show. . . A celebration of female empowerment. Whatever you call it, ‘SIX’ is a thrilling theatrical experience, and one unlike any other.

By now, ‘SIX’ has a huge following globally, and it’s not difficult to see why.

This 80-minute firecracker of a production is so much fun – it’s easy to digest, has a short but sweet soundtrack of total bangers, and a talented cast to bring it all to life.

If you’re more of a pop music lover than a musical theatre nut, ‘SIX’ is definitely the show for you. There’s a real sweet-spot of a balance between the two, providing audiences with narrative context and enough information about each character, only before it bursts into toe-tapping tunes which belong on radio.

Interactions with the crowd are reminiscent of pop girls in arenas, bringing the audience in on the show a lot more than your average night at the theatre and totally shattering the fourth wall which usually exists in this space.

My favourites from the night are Deirdre Khoo as Anne Boleyn, and Zelia Rose Kitoko as Anna Of Cleves. Deirdre’s song ‘Don’t Lose Ur Head’ is perfectly quirky and sassy, and Zelia Rose’s track is like a fusion of ‘Fancy’ by Charli xcx and Iggy Azalea, and ‘Worth It’ by Fifth Harmony. . . Making it a complete ear worm which is delivered with a delicious helping of attitude.

While I had my favourites, there’s no denying all six of these performers are absolutely fantastic. Their on-stage chemistry as a group makes all the difference – sharp quips shared between them as they fight for their place in the band are hilarious, natural and biting. . . Prompting visceral audience responses like ‘oooooooh’. . . ‘awwwww’. . . And of course, shrieks of laughter.

In the current political climate, a show like ‘SIX’, which sees women coming together to make something beautiful from their trauma, feels incredibly necessary and appreciated. While it’s obviously historical parody to the most camp degree, its messaging is grounded in real female camaraderie and the positive impact that can have when harnessed.

‘SIX’ is equal parts fun, silly, and important. With catchy songs and a slick, considered script, it’s an 80-minute joyride through herstory and female power.

By Andrew Bistak from impulsegamer.com

The globally acclaimed SIX the Musical returns to Melbourne and is currently playing at the Comedy Theatre in Exhibition Street. For the uninitiated, SIX the Musical is written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss and follows the story of the tyrannical King Henry VIII’s lesser known wives. Stepping out of the shadows of this “mad” king, we see his wives become pop stars as the audience is taken on a musical rollercoaster that puts a unique twist on these historical figures.

Selfies? Dating apps? It’s all part of the show, so don’t expect the words of William Shakespeare turned to music but rather, SIX melds Tudor history (or her story) with modernity that is laced with social commentary, including themes such as misogyny and infidelity which was rife during the time of Henry VIII. The wives even give us an informative and thoroughly entertaining snapshot into their stint as Queens but what makes this performance so great is the onset chemistry among the cast.
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The wives of Henry VIII are played spectacularly by Kimberley Hodgson (Catherine of Aragon), Deirdre Khoo (Anne Boleyn), Loren Hunter (Jane Seymour), Zelia Rose Kitoko (Anna of Cleves), Chelsea Dawson (Katherine Howard) and Giorgia Kennedy (Catherine Parr) who bring their real-world counterparts to life in a truly astonishing performance. Also supporting their performances are the amazing costumes and lighting that creates this true rock atmosphere of the Tudor era. As a result, it’s quite an empowering performance with its strong feminine energy.

There’s also a live female band who are equally as impressive and really blast the music throughout the Comedy Theatre, particularly the different styles that accompany the songs. And the songs? Combining history, social commentary to music works particularly well for SIX the Musical and the majority of numbers resonated well with the audience, especially Deirdre Khoo’s number Don’t Lose Ur Head which was quite infectious and very hilarious. In terms of pacing, each Queen has their own unique song with the vocal backing from the other Queens as they tell their story to the audience as we learn who was…
Divorced
Beheaded
Died
Divorced
Beheaded… with the above taken from the first song, Ex-Wives.

As to a favourite performer? That is a really tough question because all six performers were fantastic but each had a different emotion and personality that they brought to their characters which made them shine. However the cheekiness and sassiness of Deirdre Khoo cannot be beaten. Vocally, the six cannot be faulted. Additionally the choreography once again made this musical more concert than musical which suited the story very well, especially with the different styles.

Although the sets are limited, the lighting really makes up for this, especially the song performed by Zelia Rose Kitoko with an amalgamation of Daft Punk meets the German homeland of Anna of Cleves, including a hilarious swipe left, swipe right moment.


While some aspects of SIX the Musical are dark, the story merges humour to help tone down these themes and more importantly, the Queens get their Happily Ever After… well 5-minutes worth! With hoots and shouts from the audience, the opening night of SIX the Musical was a success at the Comedy Theatre with the show ending with a standing ovation.
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Final Thoughts?
It’s easy to see why SIX the Musical has become a global phenomenon that has been seen by over 3.5 million people worldwide that also has a string of awards as well. With clever lyrics and phenomenal performances, SIX the Musical is definitely a must see performance!

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