Unless you have been actively avoiding my blog and social media, you will know that I love Six the Musical. Probably more than is healthy. I saw it in London with Hisdoryan, and it was one of the top highlights of my trip. Obviously when the London cast told me that there was going to be a Canadian premiere, I was going to be there. Cue me organising a trip to Edmonton, AB. I’m going to be sharing my thoughts on Six the Musical in Edmonton, some of my highlights from the shows, and why I think that Six is only going to keep growing!
Six is my ideal musical, and I don’t know if I will ever find another so perfect. It has royal history, pop music, and the best fans; you literally couldn’t ask for more. In case Six the Musical is new to you, I will do a quick rundown. It is a pop concert musical where Henry VIII’s six ex-wives compete to see who can lead the band by deciding who had the worst go of it with Henry. The queens each sing their song and tell their tale, but who will win?! You have to see Six to find out… (And if you are looking to learn more about these badass queens, check out my reading guide!)
Six the Musical in Edmonton, AB
The Citadel Theatre in Edmonton is the lucky theatre to get the Canadian premiere of Six, and I have to say, they are the perfect venue. Edmonton is a vibrant and welcoming city, and the Citadel is a fantastic theatre. I chatted about how wonderful the Citadel staff are in my How to Get the Best Theatre Tickets post- they went above and beyond in keeping me up-to-date on when tickets would be available and if there were codes. However, they were also as fantastic in person. They had everything set up perfectly, including an area in the theatre lobby for autographs and meeting the Queens after, and put up with all of my questions. The Shoctor Theatre, the actual theatre Six is in, is also great. It is small-ish (exactly what you want for the show), and the seats are comfortable.
Differences between the UK Six the Musical and the US Six the Musical
I think that a lot of people, myself included, were wondering this question from the beginning- are there any differences between the UK and US versions of Six? Given that I saw it in London in February with the original West End cast, I was actually a little worried that it would feel off or weird. However, I am entirely thrilled to say that it was as perfect the second and third times! (More on that later) The costumes and sets are the same in both productions, and look as striking and badass as ever. Obviously each actress plays each queen differently, so they were different from the queens that I saw in London. The only real changes to the show are a few words here and there! “Mate” is swapped for “bro” and “friend,” and “GCSE” becomes “PBS”. And yes, the North American queens do not use an English accent. I thought that it might be distracting, but I didn’t notice at all. The queens and their stories are the heart of the show, and the US queens are just as heartfelt and impressive as the UK.
Standout Moments in Six the Musical in Edmonton
So, after seeing the Canadian premiere on 1 November, I decided to buy another ticket for the show on 2 November. (NO. REGRETS.) I actually had different standout moments from each show, but I will do my best to gather my thoughts. My favourite queen in Six is K Howard, aka Katherine Howard aka wife # 5, so obviously I was looking out for that. And I can happily say that Sam Pauly is one of the most talented actresses that I’ve ever seen live- in both performances she hit the comedic and tragic notes of K Howard to perfection, and I would have bought another ticket just for her. (To anyone who knows the show: “The most inglorious is victorious”.) In the first show, Brittany Mack’s Anna of Cleves was purely fun– when you see badass Cleves literally skipping across the stage, you know it can’t get any better. She has so much fun with the role, and it shines through. And Andrea Macasaet’s performance as Anne Boleyn on the 2nd November show was brilliant. She balanced Anne’s playful personality in the show with a bit of a bite, and it works so well. I also loved Adrianna Hicks as Catherine of Aragon (she will stare you DOWN, like the real Catherine would), Abby Mueller’s Jane Seymour (a wonderfully sweet and supportive Jane), and Anna Uzele’s Catherine Parr (as she says “gold star for Cathy Parr”- gold star for Anna!!). And of course, the megaSix from each show was spectacular. The megaSix above is from the 1 November show, but you can expect to see the one from the 2nd soon!
Six the Musical Merchandise
Obviously I was going to go a little nuts on the merchandise- I think we all knew that. I literally planned my packing and suitcase with the idea that I would be bringing things back with me. My only question was what the prices would be, as I had only seen $USD prices. However, I think it was reasonable prices in $CAD! I went with the names/silhouette t-shirt ($40 CAD), the premium canvas tote bag ($25 CAD), the latte mug ($30 CAD), the keychain ($10 CAD), and the button set ($15 CAD).
My only question on the buttons is why there isn’t a button for each queen, but my beloved K Howard was included, so I was happy. (For the full list available in Edmonton, see here.) I’m really impressed with quality of everything, and I’m excited to use everything. (Expect to see it everywhere in my life, folks.)
…Meeting the Queens
I am so incredibly grateful that my friend and host Kristin was willing put up with my fan-girling. I pretty much ran out after each show to get in line to meet them. The Citadel has done a wonderful job of making it quite clear as to where you should go, and when I asked before the first show, they knew exactly what to tell me. If you are seeing it in Edmonton, they will be able to meet all of the people that stay. (I was worried they might cut it short, but it isn’t the case!) They are so lovely about signing things and chatting and taking photos.
Sam Pauly let me fulfil a dream and get my K Howard picture! (I will never top it… See above) Andrea Macasaet gave me a hug and we had a fast chat about both being from Winnipeg, too! And even though they had just performed an 80 minute show with no intermission, they all looked stunning still and were energetic as hell. On the premiere night, I had all six queens sign my tote bag (like I did in London), and yes, I have set it to make sure that they stay forever. After the second show, four of the queens came out, and I had them sign my program from that evening. I made sure to bring a silver marker as I knew the tote bag would be black, but they do have markers for signing! Overall, it was incredible experience to meet them and they are the best people.
One of a Kind, No Category- Why We Will See Six Grow
I’ve got to say, Six is a fairly unique show. Given that it is more of a pop concert than a traditional musical, it appeals to an entirely different audience. And while we all have our favourite queens (K Howard right here), there is the loveliest warmth about Six fans. I met a girl in line for autographs from Indiana who had also gone to London to see it, and I wouldn’t have met her otherwise. Everyone is so welcoming and excited for Six. It is also lovely to see women coming to the forefront, both of history and of theatre.
And quite frankly, with a fairly compact cast and a single set, it is a practical show to transport. As of November 2019, there is the West End UK cast and the touring UK cast. There is also this US/Canadian cast, and two Norwegian cruise ship casts. In January 2020, there will be an Australian cast, in February 2020, the US/Canadian queens head to Broadway, and in June 2020, a new US cast will head back to Chicago! (And hopefully another Canadian city….) I could sit and watch this musical 100 times and not be bored in the least. I’m so happy that more people will have the chance to see it!
If you are in Edmonton, you absolutely NEED to buy tickets to Six! Many of the shows are sold out but there are still tickets available (find them here). The show runs through November 24th in Edmonton before they set off on tour again. (And then Broadway!) This is a unique and badass musical, and it is also just a good time all around!
Are you seeing Six the Musical in Edmonton? Or on any of the other tours/theatres?
Cheers,
The Historian
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