FOLLIES London-Joanna Riding "Losing My Mind"

The acclaimed 2017 National Theate production of "Follies" played a return engagement in 2019. For the second London run, Joanna Riding replaced Imelda Staunton as Sally.
You can also see Joanna Riding as one of the three "Witches of Eastwick" at • "The Witches of Eastwi...

[@dredgenfaith]

she literally snatched her own wig

[@alohaisland9999]

I could write a whole ESSAY about this performace

[@conversoconmiperro7255]

I would love to read it

[@alandavison327]

Worthy of a dissertation I would say.

[@22professional]

1. No breath before "I dim the lights" 2. That insane placement of "loved me". 3. The sublime dip in the final "ki-i-ind" and the intensity of biting off the note with a hard "d". 4. The immaculate slide (into insanity) of "mmmmyyyyyyyy". 5. The intentional cracking and despair on the final note. Awesome singing, acting, and story-telling; a thrilling and emotional performance. A musical theatre master class Ms. Riding!!

[@fountainchain126]

Oh bore off

[@florence9349]

r

[@poprey300]

Definitely breathed before I dim the lights.

[@mithramusic5909]

​@@poprey300 No, it was definitely connected to "not going right..."

[@mithramusic5909]

​@@fountainchain126 why do you feel the need to reply like that to someone expressing what they liked about a performance? It's weird

[@douglaslogan6986]

Nice to see how different actresses deal with the same direction. Imelda was so obviously on the verge of a breakdown from act1scene1 that she had nowhere to go by the time she got to Losing My Mind. Jo's more subtle approach gives her much more scope to "see a crazy lady fall apart in front of you". The timing on the frantic pill/drink swallow between lines is amazing!

[@PabloLopez-rp7lq]

I read that line between the quotation marks in full rhythm of Not Getting Married. Intentional reference?

[@H3nry488]

It's great that the actresses have the opportunity to actually interpret the role. Normally shows are copy/paste with the actors drilled to do it exactly the way the original actor "did it".

[@BigglesWatch]

I think Sally was never, vocally, the right part for Imelda Staunton whereas it was absolutely spot on for Joanna Riding.

[@g.c.4824]

Which is why i prefer this performance, but ill stick with imelda's vocals because they're so melancholy

[@meredithchandler73]

This is an amazing performance. While I adore how Bernadette performed “Losing My Mind” in FOLLIES, i didn’t love her performance as Sally on the whole because I felt she played crazy right from the start of the show.😊

[@tophk8975]

idk how to describe the removal of the wig as anything but a boss ass move. like... she already ASSUALTED us with her IMMACULATE voice. like idk personally it made me audible gasp i think but also i was in such a trance by her performance that in the moment I didn't have the time to really process what happened! I LOVE this performance. omg! amazing!

[@tophk8975]

btw i am just discovering Joanna And i am already hooked! can anyone point me in a direction of her work. because omg, obviously i can find stuff from a simple search but is there something i should see that I wouldnt find from a simple search. thats what i wanna see. I wanna see all the amazing work from this amazing vocalist!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

On this channel, you can also see her in "The Witches of Eastwick" and "My Fair Lady."

[@tophk8975]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886 I know what i'm gonna fill my evening with!

[@christopherbush9027]

This is exactly what this song is supposed to make you feel. Her despair is palpable-thanks for posting Spiderwoman!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Agreed, and well said.

[@yelanates]

I feel uncomfortable is what I feel. Like I SHOULD NOT BE HERE WITNESSING THIS.

[@shawnmulligan2894]

​@@yelanatesAnd that's what makes Follies so good when it's done right. You feel like you SHOULDN'T be seeing these things. You SHOULDN'T be hearing these things being said, you SHOULDN'T be sitting there applauding and tapping your toes while Ben has a nervous breakdown. But, at the end of the day, you ARE.

[@spacelazarwolf]

The best rendition of the song I’ve ever heard.

[@michaeljj43]

listen to dorothy collins in the original production...amazing!!!!

[@locorco1]

Wow, her raw voice towards the end is incredible!

[@luc-i-guess]

not important but one thing she's employing is called vocal fry, and this one is so intense it might be the only sound coming from her by the very end of the last long note. so amazing and actually very hard to pull off nicely and tastefully

[@zoec7541]

this song is exactly why i love sondheim. this song conveys so much story, characterisation,emotion and CAPTIVATION without demanding his female leads to destroy their voices. It is SO IMPRESSIVE when she belts that bignote out !!!!!!!absolutely phenomenal

[@flanplan5903]

This is so haunting...the look on her face says it all. Heartbreaking.

[@mjaye1712]

Wow. She nailed the fragility, despair, and intensity of the character. The wig snatch at the end...powerful.

[@oliver91ist]

My God that was in creditable I saw Follies in the cinema and Imelda was as great as she always was but Joanna has good pipes and went places with this, I'd always wanted Sally with scars and there they were

[@UmmOopsy]

If this version ever gets to Broadway, honestly it would be the best thing ever

[@chazofalsa]

Since Company got transferred before the pandemic maybe we'll see it for it's 50th anniversary?

[@orion8835]

Follies already came to Broadway 2011. That is why the West end had a revival. It won the Tony award for the best score in 1972.

[@JP-sj5zn]

Such a beautiful lady with a totally beautiful voice. Too talented for words

[@bethanycharlotte9668]

I was lucky enough to see this production in London with Joanna as Sally and I went to a workshop about its direction which was so amazing and I will never forget the feeling when she removed her wig it was so utterly heart-wrenching, you could feel the whole audience be hit in the face with her reality after so much glitz and glamor previously in the show. It was phenomenal.

[@bobpaterson5881]

Never have heard this preformed with the undertone of anger before Very effective

[@Alex-kk8wz]

I actually can not stop watching this

[@wwl7461]

I am sure thousands of others will echo this, but thank God you are back! We missed you! Hope you have been well and are staying safe.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Thanks for this--I appreciate it.

[@michaelross5335]

I love Joanna Riding. She is an absolute class act in all she does. Had the privilege of seeing Follies 10 times. No offence to Ms Imelda Staunton but Ms Riding NAILED Sally. One of the best musicals I have ever seen. Joanna had Sally's vulnerability, fragility and sweetness. PERFECT casting. PS. Loved Tracie Bennett. Do you have more of the show we can watch aurora spiderwoman

[@tonysaund8289]

My favourite actress for nearly 30 years and this performance shows why!

[@zzzut]

That’s what I call an absolutely outstanding performance. I’m utterly speechless.

[@jessedalton2387]

WOW. I can't tell if I like this direction, but I admire them shaking up the traditional "Park and Bark in a Pretty Dress" staging. This Sally is more than just wistful, she is mentally unhinged and verging on suicidal!

[@DistantCousin]

British directors tend to dig deeper and get edgier with American material....

[@peterbriccotto4677]

LOVE this film noir direction to change it up. Phenomenal!!!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Nice term to describe this.

[@The.leatherlungs]

Joanna is phenomenal in everything she touches. I first saw her in my fair lady, she was hilarious heartbreaking 💔

[@alvarocastro1997]

This is terrific!!!! What a strong performance

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Glad you enjoyed.

[@salvatorelaverdi7755]

How could anyone not like this performance.

[@juicybutterriblydrab]

Yes! This is my favourite production of any show ever and I was worried I'd never get to hear this again because there wasn't really any extra promotion of this second run.

[@missimin]

I've always adored Julia McKenzie's rendition and having discovered this video today I love this as much.

[@dannm1107]

I'd like to add my WOW! to the chorus before me. It was just yesterday when I mentioned to a friend "there must be something new out there from Joanna Riding" and BAM! Here it is and it slaps what you knew out of the way to make room for the new! I'm glad she snatched the wig off at the end her transformation went pretty deep. Scarily deep. Thank you aurora spiderwoman. You never fail to bring the best!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Thanks for the kind words, and yes, Imelda Staunton did not remove the wig.

[@williamgardiner2010]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886 Actually Imelda Staunton refused to take direction from Dominic Cooke (the director) to take the wig off.

[@aarontakesbroadway]

@@williamgardiner2010 Really?? Why, do you know? I've been trying to research but I can't find anything on it!

[@acfran1717]

the last or were you just being kind, gave me all kinds of chills, thank you so much for this

[@estudiorobertoayala]

the wig.. a hit

[@ebvest30]

Indeed, sir, a paLpable hit . . .

[@jscho8674]

Oh my. I have goosebumps.

[@orion8835]

OMG. So moving what a strong performance with perfect gestures and build up.

[@historiador1976]

When I did watch the original London revival cast I only saw "Imelda Staunton is angry and she sings Losing my Mind in her boudoir", but Miss Riding's Sally is the real deal: genuinely touching with hair rising, increasing emotional awakening and ending in full despair like a Golden Age Hollywood star having a nervous breakdown. Bravisima! Thanks for posting this video!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Nice analysis, thank you.

[@FlimFlamFloom]

The difference between a Broadway and a West End audience is that the Brits have enough respect for a moment like this to stay UTTERLY SILENT. No coughing, no phones, no crinkling of candy wrappers. They're with the show 100%. That's wonderfully respectful and something you rarely see in NYC these days.

[@yelanates]

I just saw the filmed version today (in Utah, ironically, considering someone else’s reply…) and you could hear a PIN drop through most of the show but ESPECIALLY during and after this number.

[@yelanates]

@Jack Mason yes thank you I’m aware

[@sirjoshyyy_2024]

Honestly though, people just really have the audacity to show off their coughing talents during a moment!!!

[@alexandreleite2541]

As one should. It's so disrespectful to do everything you mentioned above. What a wave of emotions! She is superb on her interpretation.

[@teambassthomsonandbear2896]

Passion like ever never heard before X

[@kamalamoori3990]

I still till this day cannot believe that day in March last year when I attended a pre show talk at the National Theatre with Stephen Sondheim himself, and then to see him sit amongst the audience to watch the show with the rest of us, just like the rest of us!

[@Mrmattlansbury]

Bless you, Spiderwoman. The finest interpretation of this song I’ve heard!

[@greypilgrim26]

Oh my god thank you for posting this! Saw it live and thought it was the most incredible rendition, but couldn’t find any recordings of Joanna Riding’s rendition anywhere. Thank you thank you thank you for preserving this!

[@elphbwckd212]

Holy shit!! This is one of the best performances I've ever seen. Thank you for gifting us with this! I've never seen anything from Follies and this is absolutely perfection. Honestly, the best performance I've ever seen!

[@lilibetp]

Phenomenal breath control!

[@rossmiles7169]

Beautiful Performance ♡ BRAVO !

[@Showtizzlemaniac]

I have to be responsible for about 30k of the views at the point. What a performance.

[@wwl7461]

Well, I guess you broke my record. Well done.

[@peterobrien8245]

Joanna Riding is wonderful. Saw her last in a concert version of Carousel at The Cadogan Hall where she and Janie Dee reprised their roles as Julie and Carrie. She was heart-breakingly good.

[@simonhuggins3107]

thank you ..so wonderful to see this again ..I saw it with Imelda and with Joanna and both were wonderful and each did it thier way ..perfect

[@deanplessy1140]

OMG 2:37 is EXACTLY I how I feel going through an unrequited love situation. Totally gut wrenching.

[@Beans-great]

Well done! Love this version.

[@geraldsachs1325]

a great song and a superb interpretation

[@thomasmcglinchey6050]

Holy hell, this is brilliant.

[@MavisDanton]

she was wonderful in the show and one of the few who could have also played Phyllis

[@peterlewis6324]

Brilliant.

[@TheLolbot3000]

oh this is amazing! Thank you so much! Lovely use of technique to express emotion at the tied phrases of 3:31

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Glad you liked it!

[@juliogarcia8646]

Omg this is beautifully lovely

[@Vortece]

that...was...phenomenal...I am in awe.

[@rggarrison]

Wow!! She blows Imelda out of the water on this!! Her choices throughout this entire song are absolutely incredible from start to finish. Amazing.

[@gogogadget553]

Wow! Talk about bringing a new level of nuance to this song!

[@zjchaise]

Wow... like watching Lana Turner and Joan Crawford. I mean that with the highest praise possible.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

I think you're right, there is a touch of those great drama queens here.

[@joshua8483]

So underrated!!

[@marcmantell940]

thank you for this !!

[@colinwaterson7493]

Fabulous!!!!! This is who I saw and loved her/this production :)

[@DistantCousin]

OMG. Amazing to see this again

[@Shroder98]

Seriously though...absolutely flawless!!!!!

[@estudiorobertoayala]

What a joy

[@colintwist2686]

What a performer amazing

[@francotan502]

WOW, I love this song but never looked at it this way. Joanna Riding would be a great Norma Desmond in a revival of Sunset Boulevard

[@Cris-db8iy]

I'm in shock, please share others highlight from this new remplacement cast!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Other major replacements for 2019 return run: Alexander Hanson as Ben; Dame Felicity Lott as Heidi; Claire Moore as Hattie.

[@mjjago]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886 I would love to have been able to see Claire Moore..

[@Cris-db8iy]

@@mjjago yes!

[@DistantCousin]

@@mjjago I saw her do a workshop on the character/Broadway Baby at National - it was WONDERFUL! And she is lovely - Northern and camp!

[@olawaridel7210]

Impeccable!!!!

[@donalddonney1595]

Brava ❤

[@michaelroth2091]

Amazing, committed performance.

[@1957gfc]

Fabulous!

[@misfittoys5873]

One of my great theatrical regrets was going to the National theatre while Joana Riding was in follies and opting to see Tartuffe instead (which was great btw( justifying that I'd already seen the NT live follies. Thank you for giving me a taste of what I missed haha

[@alandavison327]

Taking nothing away from Imelda Staunton, who is a National Treasure, I didn't particularly enjoy her performance in Follies as much as I would have liked. She was too simpering, too angsty. I couldn't believe that Ben would find her remotely desirable (especially as Janie Lee was everything I wanted from Phylis) Joanna Riding would be perfect in this role and I'm only sorry I didn't get the chance to see her. This snippet is a treat so thanks for posting.

[@wickedwizard5377]

I wonder if Joanna swallowed the pills and the water at 3:15. It’s so impressive how she started singing almost immediately after that!

[@ilfranchi]

usually actors don't do that

[@JC-fc4qt]

astonishing

[@nornsnornsnorns]

Joanna was wonderful as Sally, and for me better cast than Imelda

[@waynehartigan3021]

Joanna Riding is simply great. Check out her sing Scarborough you will love it.

[@charlesrabb5568]

My god. I wish I could see her full performance as Sally. I'm num now

[@kalebmichaelfair3192]

Absolutely stunning! Her performance is boundless! Thank you, Aurora Spiderwoman! Is there anymore footage of her performance in this production?

[@SweatyOracle]

Oh Great and Powerful Patron Saint of the Almighty Bootleg, I know that you don't take requests usually. But I was wondering if you could dole out a special treat for a long time fan and champion who's had a rough rough month. I'd love to see Joanna perform Too Many Mornings if there is any change you felt gracious enough to upload it! I know Imelda sang the song down but I'm pretty sure Joanna sang it in the original key and I'd love to experience that!

[@Aegorraasreturned]

So good that she snatched her own wig lol

[@pauladorna4627]

The best💋

[@gillestompkins8776]

This is amazing!! Do you have anymore of this performance? I saw this cast back in February 2019, they were absolutely spellbinding (And I happened to meet Claire Moore in the National Theatre book shop before the show. She was so lovely and seemed over the moon that I recognized her)!

[@Shroder98]

.............damn! 😳😮🙌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@ryebread9299]

She easily flies over any other performance of this song

[@kathleenfarris8710]

Wow!

[@idparkinson]

WOW!

[@estudiorobertoayala]

100% great

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Glad you liked this.

[@confessionhorrorbaby]

Woah! I had no idea footage (or even audio) of her in the role existed. Where do you find this stuff?

[@LucasFerreira-rl9nd]

Lol, she records it

[@this_Joe_Smith]

Wow

[@Luxurytrash_]

The way she snatched her wig at the end.... same Jo, same

[@davidpadilla5265]

Where/when was this performance and how do I see the full production 🤩

[@notcarlie1710]

Sondheim has often said that Sally should simply sing this as a torch song without being too invested in her own context, but I actually prefer both Joanna's and Imelda Staunton's performances. It briefly takes you out of the "Loveland" facade to expose how broken up Sally really is.

[@americanboy99]

wow

[@trancedoutkid]

Yes ma'am

[@alwaysnew189]

👏

[@scottishphotographer]

Sensational. Joanna Riding's Sally was so much better than Imelda Staunton's scenery-chewing performance.

[@michaelcornett444]

I like the removal of her wig...it's like she's losing her illusions and finally seeing reality, finally being honest with herself. As much as it may hurt.

[@user-me8kr6mv5l]

Magnific* bravooooo* utube John bavas cabaret

[@BEE-mp9vk]

The wig snatch at the end is a.... choice.

[@everyngo]

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢