Elysha and I brought the kids to Six on Broadway yesterday:
Clara’s birthday present
Somewhere along the way, Clara discovered the existence of the show, fell in love with the soundtrack, and desperately wanted to see it performed live.
She was very excited to open her birthday present about two weeks ago and find tickets to the show.
Despite the frigid temperatures, we had a great time.
The structure was different than many Broadway shows. Each wife of Henry VIII sang a song arguing why she was the most suffering of all his wives. The audience was asked to listen to each song and help determine which wife led the worst life of all.
“There is absolutely no fourth wall in this show,” Charlie whispered to me during the first song.
He was correct.
The structure made the show feel more like a concert than a traditional Broadway musical. Knowing that each of the wives would be singing a song about their marriage, one after another, stripped away any opportunity for suspense, surprise, or even plot, and it made the show feel a little repetitive and formulaic at times.
But the music was fantastic. The dancing, choreography, and lighting were spectacular. The band, which performed onstage, was outstanding. And the performances were all spectacular.
Still, it wasn’t much of a story.
The final song, which turned the show on its head a bit, was excellent and helped to bring the show to a higher level, but overall, I thought it was very good but not great.
Entertaining as hell but not the kind of show that will live in my heart and mind.
But none of that mattered yesterday because the thing I loved best about the show was watching Clara respond to something she so clearly loved. Bouncing in her seat to the songs, clapping along when the performers encouraged audience participation, and smiling constantly was the best part of the show for me. And when the final song ended and the curtain calls began, she was the first person on her feet, cheering the actors and band for their performances.
“Best birthday present ever!” she shouted.
Making your kid happy:
That is the part that will live in my heart and mind forever.
