Tag Archives: Millie O’Connell

SIX THE MUSICAL LIVE

★★★★

In Cinemas

SIX THE MUSICAL LIVE

In Cinemas

★★★★

“captures all the magic of a live show, while also allowing the audience to view all of the incredible detail that’s gone into making Six what it is”

It’s the pipeline that every young, Fringe theatre-maker in the country dreams about — from Edinburgh Festival Fringe to West End sensation. Not only has Six accomplished those heights, but it’s also enjoyed a very successful Broadway transfer (even with that classic 2020 hiccup that we all love talking about), an Australian tour, a stint on Norwegian Cruise Lines, and endless other international tours in the works. Its original West End cast, along with one of their understudies, have even gone on to start their own girl group, SVN — and yes, that is “seven” stylized — and rightly so. Together, this cast are an absolute powerhouse. And now they’ve been immortalized as the iconic Queens of Six on film.

Having never seen the stage musical before, I went in with very little knowledge on the show itself. The premise is simple enough — the six wives (ex-wives, they wish to remind us) of Henry VIII have gathered to tell us their stories and to ask us… which one of us had it worst? One would think it’s pretty difficult to compete with being beheaded à la Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, but the truth of the matter is a bit more complicated than that. In an effort to help us understand each of their individual tragedies, they each decide to treat us to something of a pop-solo-slam about what Henry put them through. But this is no straightforward sob story. Each Queen seeks to retake some control of her own narrative.

Six is clearly a smash-hit for a reason. The songs, written by the show’s creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, are catchy and clever, as are the asides written for each Queen between the ballads. The costumes, designed by Gabriella Slade, are not only gorgeous, but thoughtful in the way that they compliment each Queen. The message is heart-warming, but it definitely plays it a bit safe, as musicals tend to do — it’s entry-level, “girl power” feminism, but it serves as a great way in for young viewers who need to hear that message.

The real meat of the thing though, is the experience that the live film offers. It captures all the magic of a live show, while also allowing the audience to view all of the incredible detail that’s gone into making Six what it is. It also serves to showcase the individual performance of each stunning Queen (the original West End cast of Jarnéia Richard-Noel, Millie O’Connell, Natalie Paris, Alexia McIntosh, Aimie Atkinson and Maiya Quansah-Breed). Each one gets her moment in the spotlight, of course — and each deserves to have her performance preserved in this way. The direction by Liz Clare is absolutely commendable, it’s dynamic, exciting, and extremely engaging – and most importantly, it does the show justice.

This is a pro-shot that will undoubtedly offer widespread access to a culturally important West End show that many folks might otherwise never get to see — and if that’s not an incredible rewrite of theatre history, I don’t know what is.



SIX THE MUSICAL LIVE

In Cinemas

Reviewed on 2nd April 2025

by Stacey Cullen

Images © Universal Pictures UK

 


 

 

Previous ‘In Cinemas’ review:

MACBETH | ★★★★ | January 2025

 

 

SIX THE MUSICAL LIVE

SIX THE MUSICAL LIVE

SIX THE MUSICAL LIVE

Be More Chill

Be More Chill

★★★★

Shaftesbury Theatre

Be More Chill

Be More Chill

Shaftesbury Theatre

Reviewed – 6th July 2021

★★★★

 

“an undeniably addictive show”

 

Based on Ned Vizzini’s 2004 novel of the same name, it is difficult to watch the musical adaptation without the added poignancy wrought from the knowledge that Vizzini took his own life at the age of thirty-two. He was aware that the musical was being produced – indeed even excited at the prospect. Writer Joe Tracz and composer and lyricist, Joe Iconis, had just finished the first draft when they learned about the author’s death. Sadly, he hadn’t yet heard any of the music, much of which represents Vizzini’s personal struggles.

It’s hard to know how much of the innate sorrow washes over the audience’s head. “Be More Chill” is unquestionably aimed at the younger demographic, and one hopes that it speaks to them more directly than the whoops and cheers that accompany the action suggests. There is a superficiality that belies the subtext and, whilst you cannot ignore the sheer entertainment value of the production, it would be a shame to belittle the significance. As a (slightly) older member of the audience I try to put myself in a younger pair of shoes. Yes, I can argue that there’s nothing ground breakingly new here, but the freshness of Iconis’ music and lyrics, with Tracz’s book pull you in to the story; a pull made more forceful by the strength of the performances.

Stephen Brackett’s production focuses on two high school characters doing their best to try to fit in: Jeremy; who is on a quest to find acceptance, initially with a self-absorbed disregard of anything or anybody else (cue the scope for redemption), and Michael who is more accepting of his oddball status. Jeremy is persuaded to try a new pill called SQUIP (Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor) which imports a supercomputer into the brain and instructs him how to achieve the self-confidence he needs. It is a short cut to the popularity he dreams of but, being a heavy-handed metaphor, comes with the predictable downfalls. Michael is sceptical. What follows is a weird and sometimes wonderful storyline that is a mixture of high school musical and sci-fi fantasy.

Scott Folan’s Jeremy is a perfect mix of charm and angst, susceptibility and awareness. The standout is Blake Patrick Anderson as Michael. The audience cannot fail to be gripped by his show stealing performance, particularly during the most recognisable number, ‘Michael in the Bathroom’. Yet each cast member shines in their own way. Stewart Clarke as the personification of ‘Squip’: an intended pastiche and homage to Keanu Reeves in ‘The Matrix’. Miracle Chance illuminates the stage as love interest, Christine, while Christopher Fry delights as Jeremy’s father – trouser-less but nevertheless still ‘wearing the pants’.

The characters are brought further to life by Alex Basco Koch’s video projections which hypnotically convey the altered states of their minds. There are moments when the narrative steers a bit too close to confusion, but the actors pull it back and through song refocus on the heart of the matter. It’s a show of extremes; of suffering and joy, the agony and ecstasy. It’s initial run Off-Broadway failed to ignite its audience, and it simmered silently for a couple of years. Through word of mouth and YouTube clips the soundtrack eventually hit the charts and a cult phenomenon was born. Paradoxically you can understand both receptions. It is an undeniably addictive show, although I can see why some might want to resist it. But if you can cast aside reservations and learn to ‘be more chill’ it is well worth the ‘trip’.

 

Reviewed by Jonathan Evans

Photography courtesy Be More Chill

 


Be More Chill

Shaftesbury Theatre until 5th September

 

Previously reviewed at this venue this year:
Abba Mania | ★★★★ | Shaftesbury Theatre | May 2021

 

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