Henry VIII’s wives are back with a pop-fueled vengeance in ‘SIX’

Celina Colby

Celina Colby is an arts and travel reporter with a fondness for Russian novels.... VIEW BIO

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The infamous Tudor monarch King Henry VIII doesn’t have a great reputation. He’s remembered for having six wives, beheading two of them and for splitting up the country’s religion just to chase a mistress. In “SIX,” the Broadway blockbuster currently touring North America, Henry’s wives air their grievances with all the glamour of pop stars.

Created by Tony Award winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, “SIX” is structured as a singing competition during which all six of Henry’s wives perform their own song about how difficult he made their lives. Each wife channels a different diva from Beyonce to Ariana Grande. During their sassy, witty performances, the wives drop history and attitude, while realizing they shouldn’t be competing but instead, should be embracing each other.

Since debuting professionally in the UK in 2018 and on Broadway in 2020, “SIX” has been a smash hit delighting audiences of history buffs and pop music lovers alike. No historical background is needed to enjoy the show, although the program does include a cheeky bio about each queen, and the 90-minute performance is high energy the whole way through.

The Boleyn Tour cast includes Chani Maisonet as Catherine of Aragon, Gaby Albo as Anne Boleyn, Kelly Denice Taylor as Jane Seymour, Danielle Mendoza as Anna of Cleves, Alizé Cruz as Katherine Howard, and Tasia Jungbauer as Catherine Parr. In addition to the queens, a live band performs on stage as part of the production.

“SIX” strikes such a strong chord in part because it’s a fresh take on a story that’s been mined for hundreds of years. There are endless adaptations presenting Anne Boleyn as a sultry temptress and Henry VIII as a charming catch. To hear from the queens, who have rarely had their say in the story and most certainly didn’t while it was happening in history, is refreshing. There’s also something satisfying about seeing these women take back their power and their lives in ways they never could have in real life.

As part of the North American tour, Broadway in Boston is hosting “SIX” at the Emerson Colonial Theatre through Dec. 29.

The story may be rooted in history but the message, and the riffs, are utterly contemporary. This is also reflected in the diverse casting, which brings BIPOC women together on stage in a powerful way.

Kenny Wax, one of the original producers of the show, writes in the program, “The show is about far more than ‘ex-wives.’ It’s really about contemporary women who are prepared to fix each other’s crowns and support each other. This is the true message of ‘SIX.’”