Review: Marie and Rosetta (Rose Theatre/UK Tour)

Review by Daz Gale

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Over the last decade, Beverley Knight has proven herself to be every bit as good an actress as she is a singer with acclaimed turns in multiple musicals, even winning an Olivier award for her efforts. One thing she hasn’t attempted so far is a play… until now. Making her professional play debut, she stars in the UK premiere of Marie & Rosetta, but would this prove to be another hit for her?

The two women in the title of Marie & Rosetta are singing partners Marie Knight and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, one of the most revolutionary duos in music history whose legacy has been all but glossed over. This play attempts to right a wrong in history by restoring these two powerhouse women back into the spotlight. 

The story takes us back to Mississippi in 1946 where Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rock ‘n’ roll, has persuaded the young Marie to join her on a tour, starting a partnership that would prove an iconic chapter in the legacies of both women. Though both women have contrasting styles, they find a way to get to know each other and find a sound that blends the best of their abilities, getting to know each other in the process - but is there more to this snapshot of their lives than meets the eye?

Written by George Brant, Marie & Rosetta takes a beautiful look into both of their lives, creating a natural dialogue between the two who remain on stage through the non-stop 100 minutes of the play. Each woman has a distinctive personality that is fully fleshed out and leads to a great play on their differences with no shortage of laugh out loud moments along the way. Crucially, Brant has filled his play with heart in a story that effortlessly fills you with love and wonder, as well as admirably paying tribute to two women who perhaps don’t get all the credit they deserve.

Brant’s writing is elevated by Monique Touko’s stunning direction. Kicking off a short UK tour in the intimate but stunning Rose Theatre in Kingston, the two ladies are exposed at all times - this allows for an unrivaled connection with the audience, most notable when both women descend from the stage into the audience, taking us all to Church. Touko had expressed to me when I visited the rehearsal room her desire to get the audience involved, and while we weren’t quite brought to our feet throughout (this is a British audience after all), the spirit was certainly felt throughout. An inspired opening introducing both women and a simple yet fitting set design from Lily Arnold furthers this connection, with Beverley Knights Rosetta in particular circling the stage throughout the play.

While Marie & Rosetta is a play, music plays a huge part of the story as you would hope with two iconic musicians such as these. The show features no shortage of rock and gospel hits, all performed with a style and quality you could only dream of. Though the music takes a while to begin as the exposition of the characters and the story begins, once it does kick off you don't have to wait too long for the next one with a selection of joyous, rousing and celebratory numbers bringing this play to something quite exceptional.

With music playing such an integral part of the story, you would need two fantastic singers to take them on. Of course, anyone who has ever had the privilege of seeing Beverley Knight live in any capacity will know what a sensational talent she is, in a league of her own and one of the very best we have in the UK. She has proven time and time again how her God-given gift can tackle a wide range of genres, and she is at her very best on some of these legendary numbers. As remarkable as she is as a singer, her acting is every bit as glorious, and she may have peaked with Marie & Rosetta, getting to display a well-rounded character with many different qualities. Throughout the play we see a cocksure attitude, vulnerability, sassiness and sorrow, all delivered expertly from Beverley in an astonishing performance.

This is a two-woman show, and while you may not have heard of Ntombizodwa Ndlovu before, believe me - you will. A 2021 graduate, she is making her London debut in this play and to call it a success would be a serious understatement. An absolute powerhouse of a performer, Ntombizodwa is a revelation in the role, going toe to toe with Beverley when it comes to vocals and matching the usually unbeatable level Beverley always manages. An early performance of ‘Were You There’ made me sit up immediately and take notice of the incredible talent I was watching come alive in front of our eyes. The phrase “a star is born” may be used too much, but when it comes to Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, I can’t think of anything more accurate. With acting every bit as incredible as her singing, you will be seeing a lot more from her in the coming years, and rightly so. 

Mirroring the relationship between Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight, Ntombizodwa has also been taken under the wing of a more seasoned performer, and the dynamic these two women have on stage together is every bit as electric as I imagine it would have been seeing the real Marie and Rosetta together. Both fantastic performers in their own right, they seem to bring something extra out of each other, creating a jaw-dropping double act where both ladies prove to be as good as it gets when it comes to both singing and acting.

With a guitarist and pianist (Shirley Tetteh and Liam Godwin at this performance) on either side of the two performers, the music comes alive with classic musical numbers filling every inch of the theatre with heart and soul. From the infectious ‘Rock Me’ to the beautiful ‘Didn’t It Rain’ and the sultry ‘I Want A Tall Skinny Papa’ to name but a few, the quality remains whether you are familiar with these numbers or not. The biggest number comes when both women join forces for ‘Up Above My Head’ in a sequence that can only be described as Heavenly.

Marie & Rosetta is a celebration of women who should have received more credit than they have received. It is important to give credit where it is due and that extends to every single person involved in bringing this miraculous production to life. From George Brant’s writing to Monique Touko’s direction to the two amazing women performing on stage to everyone else who had any hand in this masterpiece production. Marie & Rosetta is a constant joy to watch. Heartfelt and moving, it carries with it themes of sisterhood, legacy and the power of music. The result is a stunning watch that is a celebration of both music and theatre. Throughout the play, Sister Rosetta Tharpe finds herself swearing and immediately apologising to God - well, please accept my apologies in advance as this play can only be described as damn good!

Marie & Rosetta plays at Rose Theatre in Kingston until 24th May, Tickets from https://allthatdazzles.londontheatredirect.com/musical/marie-and-rosetta-tickets 

It then plays in Wolverhampton from 27th - 31st May https://www.grandtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/marie-and-rosetta/

and Chichester from 25th June - 26th July https://www.cft.org.uk/events/marie-and-rosetta

Photos by Marc Brenner