A new off-Broadway work looks at the real life musical duo of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and her protege Marie Knight. NY1's Roma Torre filed the following review of "Marie and Rosetta."
Rock 'n' Roll has many Godfathers, but only one Godmother - and that's Rosetta Tharpe. Sadly, most of us have never heard of her, but she had quite an influence on the artists we regard as legends today. Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash all singled out Rosetta as an early inspiration. The story of Rosetta and her stage partner Marie Knight is brought to vivid life, but their music is what steals the show.
Entitled "Marie and Rosetta," the 90-minute play is set in a funeral home in Mississippi, 1946. Though famous at that point, Rosetta was not welcome in whites-only hotels, so while on tour in the deep south she had to rely on the kindness of fans to open their doors to her. Sleeping in coffins and rehearsing among the dead was regarded as something of a luxury back then.
Written by George Brant, the exposition is rather clunky. But the performances are remarkable. Kecia Lewis' expansive vocals rise to the rafters at the Atlantic Theater, fittingly a former church. Rosetta was a child prodigy on the gospel circuit before finding her voice as an R&B powerhouse and Lewis sings her like the second coming.
Rebecca Naomi Jones is equally gifted as the younger Marie. At first she's a starry eyed innocent but blossoms into another dynamo. Together they make a most joyful sound.
A big shoutout to the unseen musicians: Deah Harriott on piano and guitarist Felicia Collins, who rock their hearts out. Director Neil Pepe wisely allows the music to carry the day. With this much talent, when these ladies get cooking, it's a religious experience.