Six The Musical Live

I think the musical SIX is incredibly clever (it is framed as a pop concert and each of the queens are modeled on contemporary pop stars) and I love it so much I drove to Las Vegas to see the Broadway touring production at the Smith Center and then I saw it twice when it came to the Eccles Theatre in SLC.  I was, therefore, beyond excited when I learned that the original West End queens, Jarneia Richard-Noel as Catherine of Aragon, Millie O'Connell as Anne Boleyn, Natalie Paris as Jane Seymour, Alexia McIntosh as Anna of Cleeves, Aimie Atkinson as Katherine Howard, and Maiya Quansah-Breed as Catherine Parr, reunited in June and July of 2022 to film performances at the Vaudeville Theatre in London for a theatrical release.  I was able to see the proshot yesterday with a large crowd and it was so much fun!  The former wives of of King Henry VIII get together to determine who suffered the most and decide upon a singing competition to crown a winner.  Catherine of Aragon sings "No Way" and argues that she agreed to leave her homeland at 15, come to a country where she didn't speak the language, marry a man who died soon after, spend seven years in a nunnery, then marry the man's brother but she did not agree to be replaced.  Anne Boleyn sings "Don't Lose Ur Head" and argues that everyone overreacted when she just wanted to have a little fun (what was she meant to do?).  Jane Seymour sings "Heart of Stone" and argues that she suffered the most because she loved Henry the most and knows that he only loved her because of her son.  Anna of Cleeves sings "Get Down" and argues that she was rejected by Henry because of her looks but concedes that she probably won't win the competition because she made the most of her situation.  Katherine Howard sings "All You Wanna Do" and argues that all of the men in her life, including Henry, used her for one thing without her consent.  Finally, Catherine Parr sings "I Don't Need Your Love" and argues that, even though she survived, she sacrificed true love for an arranged marriage with Henry.  They ultimately decide to abandon the competition because they do not want to be defined by Henry and rewrite their stories in "Six."  All six queens give powerful and electrifying performances in which they belt out their songs with enthusiasm, engage in banter with each other that is hilariously catty, and execute the stylized choreography with precision.  I especially enjoyed Paris's emotional rendition of "Heart of Stone" (my favorite song in the show) but the highlight for me was Atkinson's version of "All You Wanna Do" because her voice and facial expressions slowly change (I loved all of the close up shots) with each verse as she realizes that her beauty is more a curse than a blessing.  I loved having a front row seat for the sleek scenic design, the dramatic lighting, and the sassy costumes that feature both a Renaissance silhouette and enough bling to rival any pop princess.  My only complaint (and this is also my complaint about the stage show) is that it is over very quickly.  This reminded me of a concert film (complimentary) and I loved having the opportunity to experience this entertaining show once again!  It is in theaters now for a short run so, whether you are a long-time member of the "Queendom" or have never seen it before, I highly recommend getting a ticket.