Marie and Rosetta
Minerva Theatre Chichester
Tickets
Written by George Brant
A Chichester Festival Theatre, Rose Theatre and ETT production
Director: Monique Touko
Tuesday 2 July – Saturday 26 July
Wow. What a night! What a show! ‘Marie and Rosetta’ at the Minerva delivered an unforgettable evening of entertainment in every form possible, eliciting high emotion at every turn. Sheer joy just hearing the music, then occasional tears of compassion were swiftly followed by huge bursts of laughter from the audience.
The set was simple – just a large circular dias, a couple of smaller ones, all covered in lush green carpeting and at the centre rear an expensive looking shiny coffin. Yes. A coffin. Slightly bewildering at first but clarity followed later.
Set in 1946 in Mississippi, this superb production is the epitome of a ‘two hander’, the actors on stage together the whole time, delivering the most astonishing amount of fast talking I’ve yet to hear. Award winning playwright George Brant‘s dialogue is truly breathtaking, however delivering it so flawlessly are the peerless Beverley Knight as Rosetta Tharpe and relative newcomer Ntombizodwa Ndlovu as Marie Knight. Beverley Knight is familiar to most of us as a seasoned performer in her own right, champion of civil rights, her charitable works and musical contributions in the UK winning her award after award. It is amazing that in just 4 years since graduating, Ntombizodwa has already appeared in major productions and gained 3 awards. In this production the two women are truly equals, their acting and singing talents shining through every single second of the play.
Some of us may never have heard of Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight, Rosetta in particular a revolutionary black female gospel singer from the ‘30s, ‘40s and beyond, but I bet we’re all familiar with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix and the like, all of whom were heavily influenced by the pair. As Rosetta herself says to Marie ‘Out of Blues came Gospel’, a decade later morphing into Rhythm and Blues, then Rock’n’Roll.
I love the way George Brant and director Monique Touko have carefully and sensitively interwoven the women’s back stories and private lives into this play, at the same time demonstrating the immense contribution they made to the music world in the face of hostility, segregation and female oppression. However, such is the overwhelming talent of both these pioneers and the consummate performances from the actors who play them, that the passion they both have for their music makes this production fairly burst at the seams with pure joy.
Exuberant electric guitar toting singer Rosetta is already famous when she meets Marie, instantly recognising the younger woman’s talent and persuading this shy deeply religious ingenue to join her. Marie is in awe of Rosetta, not least for her mischievous outspoken irreverence – she’s already shocked puritanical church folk by appearing in night clubs, and plans to tour the segregated Southern states. Marie, by contrast, is a tidy conservative girl, her singing and piano playing designed only for the church. It is Rosetta’s job to get Marie to ‘swing those hips’ and put some wellie into that beautiful but tentative voice.
What followed was huge success, tinged with great personal sadness for both women. The fact that Rosetta died at a relatively young age and was buried in an unmarked grave is truly a travesty, albeit not uncommon, but this does in no way detract from her remarkable story and that of the two women’s 3 year partnership making stunning music together.
Beverley and Ntombizodwa are equally outstanding in their performances, absolutely flawless, both belting out a wealth of joyous rock and gospel numbers. Right from the start the auditorium was transformed into a foot tapping, hand clapping mass, it was impossible not to have a smile on your face throughout.
This production was a huge, huge treat of a night! The Minerva’s roof was well and truly raised.
2 hours including 20 minute interval
Touring
Marie and Rosetta is currently playing at Minerva Theatre, Chichester until 26th July.
Reviewer: Gill Ranson
Image: Marc Brenner
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐