Marie and Rosetta at Soho Place

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a formidable force and a musical pioneer. She inspired many greats, from Eric Clapton to Elvis. After a run in Chichester and at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, Marie and Rosetta returns to grace audiences at Soho Place. Directed by Monique Touko, the musical showcases Sister Rosetta’s talents as a songwriter, guitarist, innovator, and her special friendship with Marie Knight.

The scene is set in a funeral home, where Marie Knight (Ntombizodwa Ndlovu) is donning Sister Rosetta’s (Beverley Knight) face with blusher. She delicately finishes the final touch and attempts to wake Sister Rosetta up. What ensues is a funny, heart-wrenching, but equally thought-provoking two-hour show that leaves audiences feeling the need to find someone to hug.

From the off, the bouncy chemistry between Ndlovu and Knight makes for a very energetic watch. Their riffing off each other, even their syncopated movements, are reminiscent of a song being sung without the sound. Special mention must be made of the band that you usually find in shows, in which an actor on stage will mimic playing an instrument while the musician plays over the top. However, in this production, the light shines directly on the musicians, while the actors adopt a pseudo-dance to convey how the music makes them feel. Shirley Tetteh, both the musical director and the insanely talented guitarist at one point, joins Sister Rosetta (Knight) on stage as her body double, and in that moment, the two become one whilst also remaining distinct in their talents. With Genevieve Namazzi taking on the mantle of bassist besides Tetteh, and Mia Odeleye playing the piano as the second half of Marie Knight (Ndlovu), this stunning cast and musicians blend together to create an audiovisual delight for the duration of the performance.

The show is set in a round, which can be difficult to accommodate all audience members equally. At times, the actors faced away from certain sections, making it hard to hear them, especially during harmonies. However, the staging usually did not interfere with crucial moments, such as the moving final sequence where attendees get to witness the purity and beauty of true friendship.

Many of the themes explored are quite heavy: racism, marital abuse, and gender inequality. Finding the balance between shedding light on these issues without bludgeoning the audience with a history lesson is quite a difficult accomplishment; however, this narrative manages to find the balance beautifully. The dance between the playful and the serious is so expertly done that the play doesn’t feel burdensome, and this is a testament to both the direction and the acting that is exhibited throughout. History is an important element of growing; everything can be a lesson worth learning if taught properly, and this show achieves just that.