Six Teen Edition

Darlington Academy of Performing Arts revisited the Tudor courts for their latest production of Six The Musical. This cult production is a great choice for societies with talented teens looking to hone their skills and really get their teeth into a character whilst expressing themselves in this amazingly written show.

With a split cast I got the chance to see 6 young ladies take on these Iconic roles and they certainly didn’t disappoint, individually and collectively coming together to put on a show that was bursting with energy and talent. The setting was kept simple with a clear stage supported by a very stylish and effective lighting design. The extra technical details such as the video screens added extra detail but the main focus was always on the performers with the balanced backing tracks and clever strobe lighting adding to the performances rather than distracting or overwhelming them.

I saw this production by DAPA last year and whilst it is impossible to do an exact comparison, I must admit that this year’s show was cleaner, slicker with extra detail in the choreography and the 6 Queens completely united on the stage.

Joanne and Paul Mason supported by Laura Pattison did a great job in the direction and choreography not only with the 6 principals but also with the fabulous army of ladies in waiting who all showed great connection with the numbers, really delivering energy and pace to the big numbers. They were not just on that stage to bulk up the numbers but really brought an extra dimension to the larger ensemble numbers. It was lovely to see girls of all ages involved and the younger ones really looking up to the leads with admiration, clearly very positive role models to the future Boleyns and Seymours of this Academy.

It’s impossible to know where to start with the Queens. All 6 of them brought something very unique and special to their roles, through characterisation and vocalisation it was evident that so much work and attention had gone into not only the presentation but also understanding of their roles.

The Opening number Ex-Wives got the show off to an amazing start. The number had such a strong impact really setting the tone for the rest of the production. In one song we not only identified who each Girl was but the sort of mannerisms they would be portraying for the rest of the evening. Individually their vocals were punchy and distinctive but collectively it was slick and connected.

Sophia Pick was a great choice for Catherine of Aragon, the feisty Queen. Her riffs and vocals were powerful the whole performance but what really brought her to life were her cheeky facial expressions and physical actions. The way she owned the stage really gave her character a cocky edge and she completely raised the roof in her big solo, No Way. I’ve seen Sophia in  a number of shows before and this was by far her most confident and impressive showing. Her connection with the other Queens was brilliant, the little lip curls and raised eyebrows really adding to her detailed character.

Molly Skinner was an absolute sensation as the brilliantly funny and over the top Anne Boleyn. Her consistent insistence of her being the Queen with the most tragic story due to her beheading was hysterical and wonderfully kept in character but I’ve never seen an actress this young truly own a stage the way she did. Even when in the background and off script her character was larger than life. Her big number Don’t Lose Your Head not only suited her vocally but was a perfect number for an actress incredibly talented in story telling and character building. What an absolute star in the making.

Eva Barrass took on the softer and more tragic role of Jane Seymour and showed off so many different aspects to this character. Her lively and comical moments in the big numbers were a joy to watch, her dancing and movement were brilliant but this young lady connected with a song, Heart of Stone, with more compassion and understanding than I have seen for a lot of years. Not only was this vocal perfection with great control but both aspects of her range were sincere and passionate. Her lower range was sensational and she truly understood the song, the lyrics and the meaning inside the story. I was truly moved listening to this number and felt connected with her story whilst sitting in complete silence listening to a beautiful and moving rendition of this well known number. Well done Eva you not only nailed this piece but you made it your own rather than just doing a carbon copy of the original.

Anna of Cleves was brought to us by the absolute ray of sunshine that was Mia Scott. This actress completely connected with the audience from the start. It is quite brave to be able to engage with the audience, especially at this age, but Mia was able to look right into our eyes to tell her story. Packed with energy and physical movement Mia not only got the party started with the lively and utterly bonkers Haus of Holbein but then had her own solo moment in Get Down where again she put on a performance where you couldn’t take your eyes off her for one second. The costume reveal was a real wow moment and showed her confidence with the way she totally owned this small yet powerful section.

Fraya Rutter was perfect as the slightly arrogant and playful Katherine Howard, giving us a slightly naive characterisation she gave so many angles to his character. Flirtatious behaviour, almost childish energy yet adding in some really complicated dynamics to her big number All You Wanna Do from some real powerhouse notes to then bringing it back down with some softer elements. It gave the number impact without being overpowering.

I have to give Eliza Labeikyte so much praise on a number of fronts. Not only was this the youngest member of the 6 Queens, aged just 12 I am gobsmacked at how well she understood her role but also how well she stayed in character for the whole production. It’s easy to get drawn into the big characters and chaos in many of the scenes yet Eliza maintained the quieter and softer, almost nervous character the whole production. Physically and visually she told her story even without speaking a word, a very hard skill to master and she did so with so much grace. When she got her moment to tell her story she certainly took it, I Don’t Need Your Love was tender, soulful showing beautiful vocals and lovely control for someone so young. 

The story is so cleverly written that the Queens all come together at the end completely united and what better to truly summarise how these 6 were together on stage. Despite the characters being rivals for attention, the performers all complimented and supported each other. The vocals were wonderfully balanced with clear harmonisation throughout. The large numbers were sensational with great routines yet again in complete harmony with no stand out star overshining the numbers. Collectively they were a united front, all showcasing some amazing talent in this fabulous production. The finale with the 6 joined by the super ladies in waiting had the audience rocking in their seats and giving full appreciation to the stars on stage and the amazing work behind the scenes to put on this brilliant production. DAPA, it will be a very brave decision if you decide to put on Six again next year as it will be very hard to outdo what I witnessed last night but I am sure with the talent in your Academy you will again rise to the occasion.

 

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