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| Adrianna Hicks & the Cast of "Six" (photo: Liz Lauren) |
Six,
the first production of ART's
new season (in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater) is a
spectacular piece of performance art, essentially a
seventy-five minute concert
created by Toby Marlow
and Lucy Moss. It might as well be titled Where's Henry?,
as in King Henry the Eighth who, though frequently alluded to, is
neither seen nor heard; instead, in what seems long overdue poetic
justice, it headlines his six wives, each one with her own story to
sing. The work, first presented by the Cambridge University Musical
Theatre Society, then at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, moved to
London's West End, and subsequently Chicago.
Now, with an impossibly energetic cast, it has arrived
in Cambridge, on its way to Broadway. It features Catherine of Aragon
(Adrianna Hicks), Anne Boleyn (Andrea Macasaet), Jane Seymour (Abby
Mueller), Anna of Cleves (Brittney Mack), Katherine Howard (Courtney
Mack) and Catherine Parr (Anna Uzele), each of whom gets her
moment in the spotlight. With just nine musical numbers (three
ensembles and six solos), these are long moments, but the ultimately
brief production seems to fly by, unencumbered by even an attempt at
a Book, though it effectively heralds some sly feminist wit.
This makes for an exhausting visual and aural
experience, as vibrantly Directed by Moss and Jamie Armitage and
brilliantly Choreographed by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, with Music
Direction by Roberta Duchak, Music Supervision by Joe Beighton, and
Orchestrations by Tim Curran. The intricate Set Design by Emma Bailey and fabulous
Costume Design by Gabriella Slade add to the excitement; the Lighting
Design by Tim Deiling is, literally and figuratively, electrifying,
and the Sound Design by Paul Gatehouse is powerful throughout.
Not since last season's Moulin Rouge has a
musical production elicited the level of ecstatic enthusiasm from an
opening night audience. The cast had them dancing in the aisles at
their curtain calls, as will you, unless your preferences lean more
to the traditional forms of musical theater, which this is decidedly
not. If you accept this as it is intended, namely as an extended
real-life music video, you too will be singing its praises; if it's
not your cuppa, at least they're not guilty of false advertising. It
requires rethinking the term “Broadway show”, as so many
productions do these days. (Since it utilizes music from
“Greensleeves”, would this qualify as a jukebox musical?).
Described as a “limited reign”, the production has
been extended through September 29th after which it will
be executed elsewhere.
