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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Six Also see Gil's reviews of Boeing Boeing and Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical
"Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived" are the first words you hear in Six, and each one tells you exactly what happened to each of the six wives of Henry VIII. Over the course of the 80-minute show, the six wives compare the struggles and hardships they faced in their lives in a competition of sorts to see who suffered the most. The competition rules are that each wife will sing a song about her hardships and the winner will be crowned the queen of their girl group. When they were Cambridge students, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss created the musical for the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The run sold out and became one of the most talked about shows at the festival. Marlow and Moss took inspiration from a range of pop icons when shaping each of the wives and their musical styles, drawing clear parallels to artists like Adele, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Shakira. The result is a high-energy score packed with catchy, contemporary music and playful lyrics. Though the show is essentially structured as a concert with brief snippets of dialogue connecting the songs, which may leave those who prefer a more traditional musical wanting greater depth, the direction by Moss and Jamie Armitage does a solid job of giving each wife a clear and distinct identity. However, even with this clarity, some of the more awkward moments in the script remain noticeable. For those unfamiliar with the six wives, the program helpfully includes notes on each of them, along with the pop stars who inspired them, adding useful context that the book itself only lightly explores. The script sprinkles in clever pop culture references and acknowledges how many of the struggles these women faced still resonate today while also occasionally leaning into familiar tropes of rivalry and conflict among women. Fortunately, the musical ultimately reframes these figures as bold, self-assured individuals who reject being defined solely by their marriages to Henry VIII, instead finding strength and solidarity in their shared stories. The touring cast is wonderful. Emma Elizabeth Smith, Nella Cole, Kelly Denice Taylor, Alizé Cruz, and alternates Carlina Parker and Catherine Parr, who performed at opening night in Tempe, all have excellent stage presence and singing voices that soar, with energetic belting, refined vocal control, and lush harmonies. Every one shines on their solos and provides wonderful support throughout. Gabriella Slade's Tony-winning costumes are a highlight, using bold, individual color palettes to differentiate each wife, along with clever details such as neck chokers for the two who were beheaded. While Paul Gatehouse's sound design doesn't quite ensure that every lyric and line can be heard, a four-piece, all-female, onstage band sounds fantastic under Valerie Maze's music direction. Those expecting a fully developed, story-driven musical may find Six closer to a staged concert than a traditional book show, and the script does have its shortcomings. Still, the six queens are constantly captivating and the score is packed with infectious, high-energy songs. Even with its imperfections, the national tour of Six delivers an exciting and modern spin on history, celebrating these women as they take ownership of their narratives and stand together in solidarity. Six runs through March 22, 2026, at ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Avenue, Tempe AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.asugammage.com or call 480-965-3434. For information on the tour, visit sixonbroadway.com/ustour/ Music, Lyrics and Book: Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss Cast: |
