Fun Show - Well Done
by D. D. on 7/11/22The National Theatre - WashingtonRating: 5 out of 5My wife and I saw "Six" at the National Theatre in DC for our anniversary. Had seen some commercials and thought it would be fun, as my wife likes history and British royalty and all. Got good seats toward the front of the Mezzanine for an acceptable price, and it was fun! The show is not a traditional musical. While it shares some sensibilities with "Hamilton," it isn't the same kind of narrative arc. The title six are the wives of Henry VIII, reflecting together on their experiences by way of a pop song competition. This allows for a variety of musical styles and energy (as each queen is patterned after different pop divas) that make the show very entertaining. And there is plenty of energy! The cast really brings it on each number, and the band backing them up were excellent. The volume was a little high for me, and I did have some trouble making out the lyrics in a number of places, but maybe I'm just getting old. The set is simple, as the whole show takes place narratively on stage, but it is greatly enhanced by a dazzling light display that provides not only visual interest but also narrative cues and clues. The characters were well defined and brought to life by the actors, all of whom are very talented singers as well (as one would hope).
It's a shame that live theater is so expensive, as it is always a great experience (even in those cases when the show itself isn't). I would want "Six" to be available to a much wider audience to enjoy! I'm glad that we were able to splurge a bit for a special evening and enjoy this fun, fine show.