By Kimberly Rau
“Six,” the rock musical about the wives of Henry VIII, is back at the Providence Performing Arts Center this week, and history buffs and musical fans alike will find something to enjoy about this clever show.
In this modern-day retelling, the six Tudor-era queens meet up and face off, each claiming that Henry, one of England’s most infamous monarchs, put them through the worst ordeal. It’s not a pleasant fate for most of them: Two get divorced, two end up headless, one dies and one survives, but has been forced into the marriage. The woman are vying for the martyr’s crown here, and ultimately choose to leave it up to the audience to decide.
Each queen, all of whom are intended to sound like one modern rock/pop star or another, gets her own song to tell her story. It might sound trite, but it’s actually a pretty decent way to learn about events that, in some cases, history has all but forgotten.
This tour boasts a strong cast, which is essential in a show where everyone has to be able to shine on their own as well as blend into the background. Nella Cole gives us a ditzy, self-absorbed Anne Boelyn, Henry’s second wife who found herself separated from her head once she displeased the king. Cole’s entertaining “Sorry Not Sorry” is all bubblegum and 80s vibes, despite the tragic ending. Kelly Denice Taylor plays Jane Seymour, the one queen Henry probably truly loved but who died after giving birth to her son, Edward. Taylor has a beautiful, strong voice that shines on “Heart of Stone,” the only true ballad in the show that will remind you of some of Adele’s best.
Alizé Cruz is stunning as Katherine Howard, one of the oft-forgotten wives (also beheaded). Howard comes off as cocky and self-assured, reminding her fellow queens that unlike some of them, she has been catching men’s eyes since she was barely pubescent (yeah). Her “All You Wanna Do” starts off confident but turns into something much more vulnerable as the reality of what really happened to Howard seems to hit her at the same time it hits the audience. “It’s never, ever different” she cries at the end, as she relives some of the worst things a supposed “friend” can do to you.
One of the most entertaining songs in the show is “Get Down,” highlighting Anna of Cleves’ post-divorce life, which, surprisingly, is pretty damn good. Hailey Alexis Lewis is an excellent choice for the part. Emma Elizabeth Smith is the pious, at times insufferable, first wife Catherine of Aragon, and though Queen Catherine is a bit of a drip, Smith is a talented, engaging actor who does a great job with the role. And Tasia Jungbauer does a nice job with “I Don’t Need Your Love,” Catherine Parr’s song about saying goodbye to her betrothed at the king’s demand.
Though the structure of the set itself is basic (think your standard concert platforms), Emma Bailey’s Tudor-inspired backdrops are beautiful, and Tim Deiling’s lighting takes things to the next level. It compliments Gabriella Slade’s ultra-modern, saturated costumes perfectly, making for a visually interesting show even without fancy set pieces. The “ladies in waiting,” the all-woman band that backs up the singers, is on stage the entire time, which is completely fitting for “Six.”
If there are criticisms, it’s in the show’s bones, not its execution (no pun intended). The closing scene’s dialogue feels stilted and thrown together, as if the authors Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss were in a hurry to wrap things up and get the show mounted. Paraphrasing here, but at the end, one of the queens asks, what if we hadn’t had this bogus contest and had just told our stories, instead of trying to one-up each other? Yes, what if. In the same vein, the songs are mostly hits but there are a couple of weaker numbers. It seems evident the authors came up with three or four standouts and then were left with a couple extra wives to write about.
That said, this is an original, very entertaining show and, at just under an hour and a half with no intermission, will engage even the fidgetiest of audience members (though this show is probably not appropriate for younger children, given some of the content). Catch it before it closes. You’ll have fun, and might even learn a few things your history classes neglected to mention.
“Six” runs through Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. Tickets may be obtained at the box office, online at ppacri.org or by calling 401.421.2787
