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Original poster

Has anyone else been to see Six The Musical and thought it was a hit short?

49 replies

thebiggestsaleever · 28/08/2023 14:02

Took DS to see this last weekend, he’d been wanting to see it for ages and so we got tickets (not cheap (£130 for both of us). I really enjoyed the performances and assumed there would be a second half but was really surprised that it finished after an hour and 20 mins with no interval.

I think it’s probably the first time I’ve ever been to a musical (or play) that’s happened and I have to say I felt a bit swizzed. If felt it was a bit more like going to see a band play their greatest hits (without knowing any of the hits). DS still really enjoyed it, as did I as long as it lasted but still felt it was not much for the amount we paid.

OP posts:
Original poster
thebiggestsaleever · 28/08/2023 14:03

But not hit… why does the new edit button not let me edit the title 🙈

OP posts:
TheGoodBanana · 28/08/2023 14:04

I really enjoyed it but agree with was quite short.

mynameiscalypso · 28/08/2023 14:04

It is short but I tend to think most plays (and definitely musicals) are too long these days. Same with books and films.

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Bitingspaniel · 28/08/2023 14:04

I think it's shortness is part of the appeal! Especially with youngish kids. I went to see it with my 10 year old and we thought it was perfect. They do tell you there's no interval and so on so it's not a surprise. I don't think we paid as much as you though

MrHopsPortal · 28/08/2023 14:05

I loved the length - I'm so sick of sitting through 3 hour productions these days. It was so nice getting home at a reasonable time!

I really enjoyed it as well.

Needmorelego · 28/08/2023 14:05

I really enjoyed it and I've seen it twice. I think a break would have spoilt the flow.
However we didn't pay anything near £130 for 2 tickets ! Where on earth did you buy those from.

Iamanisland · 28/08/2023 14:06

I knew the length beforehand so it wasn't a shock.

I loved it, seen it a few times, nice to have something a bit different.

Twizbe · 28/08/2023 14:08

I read that it’s short because it was written for the Edinburgh festival and they have a time limit for productions.

Id love to go and see it. My kids love the songs. My personal favourite is Get Down where as my son loves No Way. My Daughter likes the finale song. It took several listens for me to get the cleverness of the chorus.

Floralnomad · 28/08/2023 14:10

I thought that was the point , no interval or wasting time . That said we saw it on a tour and didn’t pay anywhere near £130

CantGetABreak · 28/08/2023 14:10

I think it's perfect. One of those that gets better the more times you see / listen to it

iamthattree · 28/08/2023 14:14

Was it the touring production? I saw it last weekend too. Paid less than you but had crap seats.

I knew it was short and no interval. Dd2 loved it. Dd1 and I quite liked it but didn't love it. DH fell asleep....

giraffesaregreat · 28/08/2023 14:16

I was pleased when it ended. 80 minutes of my life I'll never get back. Awful shrieking singing and no plot!

PiggyPlumPie · 28/08/2023 14:17

We saw it in Aberdeen back in May. Front row seats at £40 each. We absolutely loved it but knew it was short.

I liked not having the interval - it flowed beautifully. Incredible musical.

Original poster
thebiggestsaleever · 28/08/2023 14:27

It was a treat for DS so paid a bit more for good seats,I tried for ages to get some on Today’s Tix but nothing came up.

Paid the same for & Juliet and thought that was much better (and normal length). Some plays I’ve been to see I’d have loved for them to finish in just over an hour 😉but given how popular this is and all the great things I’d heard about it I assumed I’d get a bit more. As I said though DS (11) loved it so maybe the shortness is part of the appeal for the young folk.

OP posts:
Original poster
thebiggestsaleever · 28/08/2023 14:28

Bitingspaniel · 28/08/2023 14:04

I think it's shortness is part of the appeal! Especially with youngish kids. I went to see it with my 10 year old and we thought it was perfect. They do tell you there's no interval and so on so it's not a surprise. I don't think we paid as much as you though

I must have missed the bit where they said about no interval.

OP posts:
TheWayoftheLeaf · 28/08/2023 14:30

Perfect length for me. I walked out of Wicked at the interval because it was so long I got bored

GCSister · 28/08/2023 14:35

I agree that an interval would ruin the flow.

I thought it was brilliant, very clever.

TokyoSushi · 28/08/2023 14:36

I quite liked that it was short, but then I only paid £28 for a ticket in Manchester

reluctantbrit · 28/08/2023 15:02

I find it's the right length, what more would there be the story? It's a sing-off until they realise it's not a competition but their joined story. It's very cleverly done.

I saw it three times (thank you Anne Boleyn obsessed DD) but only did the West End once when I managed Kids Week tickets.

I also think some productions are getting too long, it feels like they have to do it in order to compensate for the insane ticket prices, at least for London West End.

Hbh17 · 28/08/2023 15:08

It is a bit short, but the main problem is that it's not true "musical theatre". Yes, there are songs and the basic concept is a good one (ie to view the reign of Henry VIII through the eyes of his wives). But there is no drama, no character development, no book to speak of and little variety. It is just a cut down, sub-Spice Girls pop concert. Fine, if that's what you enjoy, and I accept that I'm not the target demographic, but generally underwhelming as a theatrical experience.

CoffeeWithCheese · 28/08/2023 15:20

Going to see it next month and I'm fully aware of how short it is (I've had the cast recording on in the car a fair bit recently). It's sandwiched in between Hamilton and Phantom on our few days in London break so it's our slightly light relief.

It's basically Horrible Histories Ex-Wives Special for adults and I'm utterly fine with that.

GolgafrinchamB · 28/08/2023 15:25

It's target audience is on the young side (many young teens) and it's more of a concert than a musical play - plus it's advertised as having no interval. I think YABU for not having looked up anything about it rather than blaming the show.

Come From Away is also a shorter production with no interval.

maybebalancing · 28/08/2023 15:28

Dd loved it, much more than Wicked the only other musical we have seen.
I think because it was shorter and snappier.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 28/08/2023 15:35

It is just a cut down, sub-Spice Girls pop concert.

That was kind of the point though — when it was the Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society show at the Fringe it was designed to get all the late eighties-late nineties babies in.

They're all take-offs of singers popular when that age were growing up. Catherine of Aragon draws on Beyoncé, Anne Boleyn is Avril Lavigne, Jane Seymour is like Adele, Katherine Howard is based on Britney Spears etc.

I was really surprised how popular it's been with teens, and how it's translated to being an actual musical. When I saw it, I thought it was really clever but definitely aimed at the millennials.

AppleTurnover1000Degrees · 28/08/2023 15:37

I loved it. I preferred not having an interval. I also knew how long it was going to be on for.