Marie and Rosetta review – Beverley Knight’s mighty voice soars as the godmother of rock’n’roll

Rose Theatre, LondonDidactic two-hander sees trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe face down racism with song as she tours the segregated US south with her fawning protegeWith her coffee table-size electric guitar and a voice capable of belting out gospel melodies over reverberating distortion, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, AKA the godmother of rock’n’roll, carries a formidable legacy. One of the first gospel singers to find mainstream success in the 1930s, as well as an early musical influence for rockers such as Little Richard and Elvis, Tharpe was a trailblazing celebrity who has since faded in the public consciousness.Set over a single night in 1946, George Brant’s two-hander finds Tharpe at a crossroads. Massively popular but facing increasing competition from singer Mahalia Jackson and controversy for taking faith-based music into nightclubs, 31-year-old Tharpe is rethinking her status. Enter the quivering, starstruck young singer Marie Knight, who Tharpe has plucked from obscurity and decided to take on tour with her across the segregated Southern US. Over the course of a rehearsal, Tharpe must persuade Knight to come on the road and revitalise her career in the process.At Rose Theatre, Kingston, London, until 24 May. Then at Wolverhampton Grand, 27–31 May and Chichester Festival Theatre 25 June to 26 July Continue reading...

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