By Barry Reszel
The Spice Girls, an English all-female pop group, burst onto the international music scene in 1994. Comprised of Melanie Brown (“Scary Spice”), Melanie Chisholm (“Sporty Spice”), Emma Bunton (“Baby Spice”), Geri Halliwell (“Ginger Spice”) and Victoria Beckham (“Posh Spice”), they are the best-selling female group of all time and the biggest British musical success since The Beatles. (Here’s a link to the group’s top hits.)
They’re also responsible for the rise of the social phenomenon known as “Girl Power,” a label given to a new feminist empowerment embraced by the band—namely that sexy, feminine women can be every bit men’s equals.
Fast forward to Chicago’s Navy Pier in spring 2019 where The Spice Girls meet Hamilton in Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s positively electric production of SIX. It’s the show’s North American premiere on the high heels of a runaway debut at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and a sold-out UK tour. SIX now enjoys an open-ended run on the West End and is nominated for five Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.
The production is the “Divorced, Beheaded: Live in Concert” tour of a fictional girl band made up of the six wives of Henry VIII (divorced, died, beheaded, divorced, beheaded, survived) and their fabulous “Ladies in Waiting” band of four female musicians. The show opens with “Ex-Wives,” a long, vibrant, upbeat, choreographed-to-perfection introduction to the six characters that audiences will never forget. Following the entrance, the queens kvetch over the fact that since the mid-1500s, people have argued about which of them was Henry’s most important wife. They agree the “most important” title should be handed to the “most aggrieved,” and then they set upon a vocal cat fight for the crown, each telling her story with a signature song (with the others singing back up).
It’s a extravagant production supported by a light show (Tim Deiling) and costuming (Gabriella Slade) that’d leave Lady Gaga impressed—and with terrific musicianship from the queens’ “Ladies”: Julia Schade, keyboard/conductor/assistant music director; Kimi Hayes, guitars; Stacy McMichael, electric bass; and Sarah Allen, drums. All of it’s impeccably sung (Roberta Duchek) and performed with tightly executed choreography (Carrie-Anne Ingrouille). Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage direct this Toby Marlow/Moss-written pop near-opera to near perfection.
SIX is a funny, sexy, tuneful, oh-so-relevant re-imagination of paternalistic history from empowering women’s points of view. And in this reviewer’s humble opinion, it’s the most significant new piece of musical theatre since Hamilton. Following its Chicago opening and planned stops in Toronto and Boston, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see a long Broadway run and a host of Tony Awards, come 2020.
Like Hamilton‘s presentation of history (in this case herstory)—though there will be no test—audiences are certain to enjoy the show more with a little background and a pre-show listen (or 10) to the cast recording. Short song clips may be accessed here, and the full studio cast recording on YouTube is here. The six queens, the fabulous triple threats who portray them and just enough historical data to help patrons follow along a little more knowledgeably as they dance in their seats to the varied beats (along with a couple tender ballads) of this magnificent show are offered here, courtesy of Hannah Kennedy and the terrific Chicago Shakespeare PR team:
ONE: Catherine of Aragon (played by Adrianna Hicks)
“My name’s Catherine of Aragon
Was married 24 years, I’m a paragon
Of royalty, my loyalty is to the Vatican
So if you try to dump me you won’t try that again…”
Birth and Death
15 December 1485 – 7 January 1536
Place of Birth
Palace of Alcalá de Henares, near Madrid, Spain
Parents
Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, joint monarchs of Spain
Education
Embroidery, dancing, history, poetry, religion, law, Latin, French. Not English
Marriage
1: to Arthur (Henry’s older brother), 14 November 1501 (aged 15)
2: to Henry VIII, 11 June 1509 (aged 23)
Children
Mary, born 18 February 1516 (later Queen Mary I); 3 stillborn children; 2 died as babies; further miscarriages
Cause of death
Probably a type of cancer
Remembered for
Her refusal to accept that her marriage was invalid; her faith; her dramatic speech to Henry at the court to judge the annulment of their marriage
DID YOU KNOW?
Catherine was Regent (whilst Henry fought in France in 1513) during the Battle of Flodden; when James IV of Scotland was killed in the battle she wanted to send his body to Henry as a present…
Queenspiration
Beyoncé and Shakira
TWO: Anne Boleyn (played by Andrea Macasaet)
“I’m that Boleyn girl, and I’m up next
See, I broke England from the Church, yeah I’m that sexy
Why did I lose my head?
Well my sleeves may be green, but my lipstick’s red…”
Birth and Death
Probably 1501 – 19 May 1536
Place of Birth
Blickling Hall, Norfolk, England
Parents
Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke of Norfolk, and Sir Thomas Boleyn, newly knighted courtier
Education
In the Netherlands and also France; Reformation thinking and debate, French
Marriage
25 January 1533 (aged 31)
Children
Elizabeth, born 7 September 1533 (later Queen Elizabeth I)
At least two miscarriages
Interests
Fashion, dancing, flirtation, collecting evangelical works
Others Queens
Lady in waiting to Catherine of Aragon
Cause of death
Executed on Tower Green, London
Remembered for
Headlessness; bringing about the break with the Pope; having a sixth fingernail
DID YOU KNOW?
Anne was fluent in French as would have acted as a translator during the visit of Emperor Charles V to court in 1522…
Queenspiration
Lily Allen and Avril Lavigne
THREE: Jane Seymour (played by Abby Mueller)
“Jane Seymour, the only one he truly loved
When my son was newly born
I died, but I’m not what I seem
Or am I? Stick around, and you’ll suddenly see more…”
Birth and Death
1507 or 1508 – 24 October 1537
Place of Birth
Wulf Hall, Wiltshire, England
Parents
Margery Wentworth and Sir John Seymour, minor gentry
Education
Very conventional; running a household, needlework
Marriage
30 May 1536 (aged 28/9)
Children
Edward, born 12 October 1537 (later King Edward VI)
Interests
Religious faith, being obedient
Other Queens
Lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn
Cause of death
Hemorrhage after the birth of Prince Edward
Remembered for
Being the “only one he ever loved”; having two troublesome brothers who fought over the regency of the young prince after King Henry’s death
DID YOU KNOW?
While Anne was still alive, Henry sent Jane a gift of money, which she refused, apparently saying there “was no treasure in this world that she valued so much as her honor…”
Queenspiration
Adele and Sia
FOUR: Anna of Cleves (played by Brittney Mack)
“Ich bin Anna of Cleves, Ja
When he saw my portrait, he was like “Ja!”
But I didn’t look as good as I did in my pic
Funny how we all discuss that, but never Henry’s little pr-…”
Birth and Death
1515 – 16 July 1557
Place of Birth
Schloss Berg, near Solingen, Germany
Parents
Maria, Duchess of Julich-Berg and John III, Duke of Cleves
Education
Minimal, raised to become a minor Duchess; only spoke German
Marriage
6 January 1540 (aged 24)
Children
None
Other Queens
Visited Katherine Howard once she became queen and bowed down to her
Cause of death
Probably cancer
Interests
Staying alive
Remembered for
Staying alive
DID YOU KNOW?
When Henry first met Anna of Cleves he disguised himself, possibly imagining some sort of romantic reaction. When he kissed her, she is said to have turned away coldly at this hideous stranger molesting her; according to a witness, Lord Russell, he “never saw his highness so marvelously astonished…”
Queenspiration
Nicki Minaj and Rihanna
FIVE: Katherine Howard (played by Samantha Pauly)
“Prick up your ears, I’m the Katherine who lost her head
For my promiscuity outside of wed-
Lock up your husbands, lock up your sons
K-Howard is here and the fun’s begun…”
Birth and Death
Probably 1523 – 13 February 1542
Place of Birth
Norfolk House, Lambeth, London
Parents
Joyce Culpeper and Edmund Howard, son of the Duke of Norfolk
Education
Brought up in Sussex as part of a large group of aristocratic young girls
Marriage
18 July 1540 (aged 17)
Children
None
Other Queens
Lady-in-waiting to Anna of Cleves; cousin to Anne Boleyn
Cause of death
Executed on Tower Green, London
Interests
Dancing, music, animals
Remembered for
Being completely used (and abused) by those with more power
DID YOU KNOW?
From her arrest on 8 November 1541 to her execution three months later, Catherine stayed under house arrest at Syon House; in late January 1542, an Act was passed in Parliament that made it treason for a woman to become the king’s wife without “plain declaration before of her unchaste life,” meaning Henry could have her killed.
Queenspiration
Ariana Grande and Britney Spears
SIX: Catherine Parr (played by Anna Uzele)
“Five down, I’m the final wife
I saw him to the end of his life
I’m the survivor – Catherine Parr
And I bet you wanna know how I got this far…”
Birth and Death
Probably 1512 – 5 September 1548
Place of Birth
Blackfriars, London
Parents
Maud Green and Sir Thomas Parr, both distantly related to the royal family
Education
Traditional “female” accomplishments; French, Italian, Latin
Marriage
1. to Sir Edward Burgh, a courtier, 1529–1533
2. to John Neville, Lord Latimer, 1534–1543
3. to Henry VIII, 12 July 1543
4. to Thomas Seymour, May 1547, in secret
Children
A daughter (with Thomas Seymour) who died as a baby
Other Queens
Her mother was a lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon; friendly with her daughter Princess Mary
Cause of death
Childbirth
Interests
Writing books, encouraging education, Reformation
Remembered for
Surviving
DID YOU KNOW?
Catherine was the first woman in England to publish books under her own name and in English
Queenspiration
Alicia Keys and Emeli Sandé
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre presents “SIX” through August 4 in The Yard theatre on Navy Pier, Chicago. More information and tickets are available here.
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