**** Highly Recommended **** Northlight Theatre’s production of Marie and Rosetta is not to be missed! Marie and Rosetta features powerful performances by Bethany Thomas and Alexis J. Roston, two of the best voices in Chicago theater – and some of the best gospel music you’ll ever hear outside of church! Marie and Rosetta is directed by another powerful Chicago voice, E. Faye Butler. This is a fabulous show! Don’t miss it. 4 BIG Spotlights
Playwright George Brant pays tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the ‘Godmother of Rock ‘n Roll’, choosing to focus on her first rehearsal with her protégé, Marie Knight, set in a funeral home, a place often designated as a ‘safe place’ for traveling blacks. In addition to a draped viewing area, Set Designer John Culbert ringed the room with caskets, adding a piano, a desk and several chairs to finish the room.
The play opens with Marie (Roston) applying makeup on Rosetta’s (Thomas) face as she rests in a chair with her eyes closed. When Marie is finished with the makeup, except for lipstick, they start to talk.
Marie thought she was summoned for an audition, maybe to sing backup while Sister Rosetta was in town. Rosetta explained that she’d seen Marie perform and instantly decided that from now on they would be a duet. When she invited her to go on the road, Rosetta was assumed that Marie was a sweet young single girl. Then Marie admitted she was married, and reluctantly mentioned her two children who would stay with her mother while she was on the road.
Marie grew up singing gospel in church, so tended to follow the pastor’s lead and disapprove of Rosetta for ‘jazzing’ up the music. In fact, during the first song, she conveyed her disapproval with throat-clearing humphs whenever she thought it was getting too jazzy. After a couple of chords, Rosetta lost her cool and informed Marie that she wasn’t going to change her style for a church-going snob.
Usually with Marie at the piano, they sang Down by the Riverside, This Train, Rock Me, Up Above My Head, Gospel Train and more. When Rosetta got out her guitar, they really rocked. By the way, she was among the first to use heavy distortion (electric blues) on her electric guitar.
Thomas and Roston were accompanied by Morgan E. Stevenson on the Piano and Larry Brown on Guitar.
Note: Guests are encouraged but not required to wear masks while inside the building.
Marie and Rosetta has been extended through August 13th at Northlight Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie. Parking is free. Running time is 90 minutes, no intermission.
Performances:
- Wednesdays at 1:00 & 7:30 pm
- Thursdays at 7:30 pm
- Fridays at 8:00 pm
- Saturdays at 2:30 and 8:00 pm
- Sundays at 2:30
Tickets range from $30-$89. FYI (847) 673-6300 or www.northlight.org.