This fascinating and compelling play with music is centred around two strong performances that brings this story to life.
George Brant’s play with music has already had an extraordinary journey with its limited tour around venues last year, but it is so pleasing to see it making its West End debut at the @sohoplace.
Warm and vibrant, it tells the story of two extremely talented musicians who come together celebrating a revolutionary moment in musical history so to speak as their differing style in terms of Sister Rosetta’s rhythm and blues style came together with Marie Knight’s more gospel style. But it is more than just musically – their personalities and perspectives on life is equally fascinating and shows how they were able to come together.
Directed by Monique Touko, it is a story of memory that is enhanced through music that offers a more poignant and poetic quality of the story that keeps it engaging. It highlights the power of music, the importance of relationships and memory.
Throughout the show we see how the difference in the pairs musical styles and outlooks on life gradually bring the pair together – which has been tenderly put together to celebrate the lives of two artists in such a heartfelt way.
There is sheer joy in the way in which both characters interact with each other that keeps the audience enthralled to see how it all plays out (with plenty of surprises) and power of emotion that keeps everyone enthralled .
The music and stories combine perfectly together to ensure that the plot comes across to perfect effect to highlight the career of two performers who had a massive influence on the music industry – definitely more than they expected.
There is such an intimacy to the way in which the show unfolds with the show that it is hard not to be involved with how it unfolds.
Both performances from Beverley Knight and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu both complement each other well and I loved the way in which they captured each others story. There is power and confidence in the way in which the characters come about.
The way in which the well selected songs (which perfectly fit in with the character’s state of mind at the varying points in the play) are performed by a team of incredible talented musicians add an additional depth and meaning to the story.
Marie & Rosetta is perfectly timed in terms of pacing and highlights just what talented musicians Sister Rosetta and Marie Knight were and how they used music to get through difficult times.
As a show it treats the female characters with great respect and brings them back deservedly into the spotlight. Well worth catching if you can.
By Emma Clarendon
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Marie & Rosetta continues to play at @sohoplace until the 11th April.