By Sena Maddison
I recently laughed over a Threads post, “For a guy that spent his entire life trying to have a son, it seems ironic that Henry the VIII is really only remembered for his wives and daughters.” That quaint irony runs through the musical Six, featuring Henry’s six wives… I mean, do you know who was married to the seven prior Henrys?
“Six: The Musical is the latest “Teen Edition” production to come out of Center and TreeHouse Theatre. TreeHouse has done a range of productions with young actors, from Shakespeare to contemporary musicals, and you always know when they take the musical route that they have the voices to pull it off. The talent here is remarkable.
- “Six” is a particularly witty choice for teens. Its creators, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, were students at Cambridge when they put it together for the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. If you go back and read early reviews, you become painfully aware that many Boomers didn’t “get” it. It is undeniably a young show, and perfect for this young cast, ranging in age from 16 to 13! (Jada, you go, girl!)
This is more of a concert than a play, and there is no intermission, so you strap in and hold on; it doesn’t let up or let you down, for that matter.
Settling into our seats at Pensacola Little Theatre, we checked out the Queens’ portraits, reminding ourselves of the childhood rhyme: “Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived.”
That is exactly how the show opens. Critics of the original musical felt it could have gone deeper to give us a more complex view of the Queens, but over time, audiences have learned not to expect the expected “remember us from PBS?” version. Luckily, we do, and we can follow along just fine.
The Highlights
(Now, my Queens, everyone was great—you don’t even attempt a show like this if everyone isn’t great—but these are just a couple of observations…)
Emma Hobbs as Jane Seymour is riveting. Not having seen the production staged before, I was wondering why such a strong performer would be given the Queen, who—let’s face it—is historically unremarkable other than having the one boy Henry so desperately wanted, and then dying. When you hear her solo, “Heart of Stone,” you will get that casting… trust me.
- There are no “showstoppers” in this play, by which I mean it never slows down, and there aren’t any weak moments. But Katherine Howard’s “All You Wanna Do” is an awfully fun song for a young woman who met such a tragic end. Anne Boleyn had a good education and a stint of freedom in the French Court to empower her thoughts. Katherine Howard, who could have been as young as 15 at the time of her marriage, never stood a chance. If you had to pick which Queen had the most miserable time of it, it would be her. But Brooke Pickett’s Katherine, with her swinging Ariana Grande ponytail, was fun.
Which brings us to the choreography. It’s stellar, and these ladies are great dancers!
And the costumes! They are dazzling, and I spent the whole play marveling at them, wondering things like, “Where did they get those sparkle charms for their Doc Martens?” and “Who did Anne of Cleves’ hair?” Granted, I am never let down in the presence of glitter and a confetti cannon, so I was happy.
Another thing that made the evening enjoyable was that the theatre is a great, comfy place for a night out. We were early, so we enjoyed a glass of wine and looked at the art books in the “library.” The staff was super nice!
Thumbs Up
Whether you are a seasoned theater-goer or someone who just enjoys a night of “glitter and confetti,” this show is a reminder of the incredible talent brewing in our local community. By the time the final notes of the “Megasix” ring out, you’ll likely forget these are “teen” performers and simply remember them as the powerhouses they are.
The Verdict: Do not lose your head—get to the theatre, grab a glass of wine, and witness this royal reclamation for yourself. It is a loud, proud, and perfectly witty night out.
SIX: TEEN EDITION
Directed by Anthony Broughton and Lexi Mayo, Music Directed by Destiny Howard, and Choreography by Lexi Mayo
CATHERINE OF ARAGON – Carly Pritchett
ANNE BOLEYN – Mia Slocum
JANE SEYMOUR – Emma Hobbs
ANNA OF CLEVES – Kavya McClure
KATHERINE HOWARD – Brooke Pickett
CATHERINE PARR – Jada McMillan
Where: Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 South Jefferson St.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
- Thu, Mar 12th at 7 p.m.
- Fri, Mar 13th at 7 p.m.
- Sat, Mar 14th at 7 p.m.
- Sun, Mar 15th at 7 p.m.
