NEW YORK—The rafters ring with song and some good old-fashioned common sense in George Brant’s “Marie & Rosetta.” The Atlantic Theater Company’s production of the play with music focuses on a pivotal moment in the lives of two African-American gospel singers: Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Kecia Lewis) and Marie Knight (Rebecca Naomi Jones).
The story takes place in a Mississippi funeral home—one replete with coffins and a piano—in 1946. It is the only place in the area that would allow people of color to spend the night.
However, sleep is the last thing on either woman’s mind at the moment; they must rehearse for their debut performance together that evening.
Lewis and Jones work well together, while ably bringing forth the mentor/protégée relationship.
