Imelda Staunton - Rose's Turn from Gypsy, London 2015

From the 2015 revival of Gypsy at the Savoy Theatre in London, April 2015.

[@victordunson719]

Thank the audience for not clapping before she finished the song. This is one of those numbers where we need to hear every note.

[@aaron01845]

I think that's the difference between a British audience and an American one. :-)

[@Trix897]

@@aaron01845 agreed. It’s situations like this when I’m embarrassed to be American. We have no class or sense of etiquette or decorum as a society. When I lived in Europe, it was too easy to spot the American tourists and I was appalled, even at the age of 13 at the time. Unfortunately, I can’t leave the US if I’m going to be able to continue to do the job that I love…or I would be planning to move back to Europe right now.

[@gabbygabs9220]

@@Trix897 Not everyone who’s from America acts the same. You speak as if you’re any different..You do know it’s possible to appreciate another country’s way of living/customs/culture without dogging your own. You’re stomping on your own foot when you say this. It’s embarrassing.

[@mannyluvsustinky]

@@Trix897 In America audiences typically clap when its a preforms first or last show or its just that good of a preformance where they need to clap for the phenominal number they just heard.

[@chloedaly5292]

When I saw this live, I swear she held the breakdown silence for so long that my sister and I turned to one another like "is she still acting or does someone need to go help her". It was so intense!

[@aaron01845]

Same here. I was mesmerized. Not many performers can hold an audience in extended silence like that.

[@debra13]

It really was like that- almost scary!

[@soliantu815]

Imelda plays the character just how I imagine she should - not as someone who could have ‘had it’, but someone who simply never could have. It’s bitter, spiteful, and raw - nothing pretty about it. And Imelda plays her as someone who is frumpy and even a tad awkward but desperately clinging to the idea they are desirable. Really a phenomenal performance.

[@nickit7655]

Yes. I’m reading Gypsy’s memoir now and I think Imelda represents Mama Rose well

[@chickennoodlesoupbaby]

True to reality

[@FilmBunny1091X]

Tbh- Her resemblance to the real life Rose, is so uncanny. I had to look up a picture of her and put her side-by-side with Imelda, and I was floored! I'm not saying this to poke fun whatsoever, I'm just stating an observation.

[@ACinemafanatic]

Kinda like angela Lansbury did so raw and unhinged

[@WilliamPacholski]

What a great summation, well said. And true!

[@jackandthebeanstalk4253]

Everyone who performs this does that very differently. This definitely shows a more spiteful side to Rose. Imelda does a good job in portraying an actual psychotic break.

[@Nacho-Mamma]

Imelda is flat out THE BEST Madam Rose I have seen. Her performance of “Rose’s Turn” & the final scene is truly heartbreaking. When she grabs Louise and breaks down crying, I’m crying with her every time!

[@ACinemafanatic]

Her and Angela Lansbury are the best at playing rose angela had a similar approach very heartbreaking bitter and insane she was the first to play rose very unhinged and desperate and having a mental breakdown trying to stay in her fantasy.

[@stegmanrichard]

you need to see Angela Lansbury

[@vasia7726]

@@stegmanrichardshe was good but Imelda was just breathtaking

[@seantodd8875]

I feel pity for anyone who only knows her from Harry Potter. Imelda Staunton is an aboslute theatre goddess. Forget the screen. She was born to tread the boards.

[@chicagocarless]

Best version I've EVER seen live, recorded, whatever, of this number. That was phenomenal.

[@richardmayora1289]

I feel sorry for people who did not get to see Delores Gray. No peer.

[@Trix897]

So few get that this is an abusive stage mom who pushed her kids to achieve the fame she thought she deserved but didn’t have the talent to obtain herself. Most actors who portray Rose see it as a lamentation instead of the psychotic break it’s supposed to be.

[@ashleyregina]

The long pause before, “Mama’s gotta let go” … I have never seen it played that way and oh my God, it’s EXACTLY how it should always be played. Having to let go deserves that kind of deliberation.

[@Gnostic72]

For me, THIS is the BEST performance to date of ROSE’S TURN. Not too crazy… not too much a performance… but a PERFECT BALANCE of the two. Ms. Staunton knows her TEXT & her SUBTEXT… & her performance is VERY LAYERED & NUANCED which makes it the MORE interesting to watch.

[@PBLE20]

Saw her in London. Words don’t even begin to express the power , the feeling in the pit of your stomach, coming from this tiny little 5 foot unstoppable force! Met her at the stage door and told her she blew Ethel Merman out of the water! She’s so sweet and tiny I just wanted to hug her. AND SHE LET ME! 😀 I’m from the U.S. and since then I’ve watched everything I could possibly find on line that she’s ever done. She is absolutely awesome!

[@lapponia77]

I have seen her in Follies, Sweeney Todd, Guys and Dolls, Into the Woods and Gypsy. Follies and Sweeney Todd were the greatest productions, but Mama Rose was her shining hour. I met her briefly at the stage door of the National before a performance of Follies. I was ordering a wheelchair taxi for my Mum, and she took time to talk to her. She was quiet, shy, and lovely - impossible to believe it was the same person who, a couple of hours later, gave a devastating performance of Losing My Mind. Thank you, Imelda xxx

[@ashleyregina]

Who did she play in Guys & Dolls?

[@lapponia77]

@@ashleyregina Miss Adelaide

[@thatssomike9303]

she is breath taking! So glade I had the chance to see this show live

[@db200508]

That's so Mike my god was she amazing. Her and patti were so different but I can’t choose.

[@ACinemafanatic]

@@db200508 try angela Lansbury as well she was pretty terrifying and was the first to do the mental side of rose

[@Empoweredwoman1234]

The best version ever. Apparently the real Rose hated both her girls until the day she died and there was no making up.

[@lisaharmon5619]

Imelda Staunton is one of the great talents!!!! From playing Cook in Nanny MacPhee to Delores Umbridge to Rose! Pure talent!

[@ALu-nq8rf]

Ntm, Mrs. Lovett

[@gasparmarino75]

Absolutely fantastic. A master class in how to "act" a song. You felt everything she was feeling as the song progressed. The essence of the character portrayed in a 5 minute solo.

[@Empoweredwoman1234]

She and Patti Lupone are both equally the best in this role. Love it.

[@nocount1]

Her take on this is so honest and nuanced. The acting through this number is spectacular!

[@tonyspinnelli730]

I have seen Gypsy with Tyne Daly Bette Midler Bernadette Peters and Patti Lupone in my opinion Imelda Staunton is the best of all of them!!!!!

[@ACinemafanatic]

Angela Lansbury started it with the realistic and raw version of rose instead of belting it that’s why she’s the best in my opinion. She actually portrayed a nervous breakdown and was the first to do roses in London and even won a Tony for it

[@BrendainPA]

What a fantastic performance - absolutely breathtaking! Thank you so much for posting - this is a real treat! -Brenda in PA

[@peteralfano4278]

I saw this in London...great interpretation of Rose--very bitter and borderline nasty...but not so crazy about her "mama...mama.." in this...but great performance

[@MikeA15206]

I love how polite Brits are! No cheating during the song,, letting her perform for them, they get they are part of the audience.

[@TheMathias456]

There was something about this portrayal that simply captures the angry bitterness and desolation that Rose possessed. You can hear it from the first line and subsequently throughout the song that she's genuinely enraged at her daughter's success and the growing realization that she simply never had it like her daughter did. Out of the versions I've heard, while Lupone was psychotic, Midler was enraged, Buckley was portraying a diva long past her prime and Lansbury was a large ham personified, Staunton is the only one who I truly feel sorry for and whom the music hits differently for.

[@aaron01845]

Can't argue with that, although I will say I got the same from Buckley's performance. She also made you understand Rose's "born too early/started too late" obsession. I promise when Imelda stopped in the middle of this number and glared out at the audience for a full half minute in total silence it was absolutely electrifying.

[@dontworry9372]

WOW that finale there-she knocked it out of the park

[@johnwhiting5747]

I love it. It is convincing.

[@dianaaljadeff2983]

I saw this performance live in 2015 in London.Unforfettable

[@SymphonyBrahms]

A brilliant performance.

[@VILA1963]

Bravo! She can do.anything (Virgínia Wolf, Sweeney Todd, Follies, etc......)

[@tonyspinnelli730]

I said the same!!!! She is pure perfection!!!!

[@Gnostic72]

And Into The Woods!!!

[@mirandakeigher819]

Chills.

[@madeleineclaire222]

I’m gonna be the Harry Potter reference you didn’t want ruining the comment section. just wait... almost there... I will not tell lies, this was so amazing.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

And she even hates children!

[@carr0760]

Holy shit. That is all.

[@MaxRyan777]

Very good. Very angry... I've seen so many "Roses" Bernadette, Patti, Donna, Bette but not Imelda. And still my absolute FAV was Tyne Daily. Ripped your heart out, powerhouse voice and PERFECTLY cast. IMO

[@redpandaluver8561]

Is there somewhere I can find the Tyne Daily singing of this song? I've never heard of them, but your recommendation makes me interested to hear them!

[@MaxRyan777]

@@redpandaluver8561 YES! Here it is kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXSvlWhradiNp5o

[@redpandaluver8561]

@@MaxRyan777 Thank you!

[@confessionhorrorbaby]

Awesome clip! So cool to see this.

[@ACinemafanatic]

Imelda and Angela Lansbury are the best roses for me honorable mention to Bette midler as well she was brassy as rose

[@jeremiahgabriel5709]

After watching this, and hearing the rasp in her voice, I wanna hear her sing *Hard Hearted Hannah* because I think it would be brilliant.

[@karietothepowerofbooks5205]

Love her so much. Anyone know where I can get a full version of this?

[@edward311]

Its available on dvd in the UK and also on Blu ray in the USA

[@nickit7655]

You can buy it or rent it on KZbin

[@damondorsey6819]

So this is what Umbridge has been up to since being released from Azkaban 😅

[@runkles]

God!

[@johnkroll2151]

Seems to be channeling Thelma Ritter

[@chicagocarless]

I mean…I can see it.

[@marcosvalenca]

Did Ritter sing?! Not that Imelda is a good singer, but she can sing.

[@lsin570]

That key change was more painful than the one they made Roz Russell before Lisa Kirk took over and saved the number.

[@imtired1696]

The key is so low though....

[@Lindacbugg]

You act as though changing the key of a song isn't done all the time. Watch any old movie musical with a scene of someone singing for an audition & you'll find the accompanist asking what key they want it in. Or commenting how it's in the wrong key for the singer.

[@stegmanrichard]

No

[@vasia7726]

Yes

[@tonyparadise7801]

She is a very good actress, but I feel a bit overrated. She has already done this, Follies, and next Hello Dolly! There has to others in the UK, just as good or even better. I'm not a fan!

[@chicagocarless]

So, she's not allowed to have a career then or what?

[@victordunson719]

Opinions are like buttholes, everyone has one and some stink.

[@sweeney60]

She’s been a figure in English musical since the 80s! She’s not going anywhere.

[@marcuspd7502]

I’m not a fan either. She always comes across as an angry bulldog. Her performances are always super aggressive, loud and have zero nuance. Mama Rose is supposed to be sexy and seductive in the opening verses of this song, and she just comes across like an angry old lady. I’m disappointed that she’s playing the Queen in the final two seasons of the crown. She’s going to make her so harsh and angry.

[@carr0760]

@@marcuspd7502 guess what? Different directors and different actors make different choices for a character! No one has played Rose exactly the same way. Just because someone else made it sexy doesn't mean everyone has to. She's meant to be having a literal breakdown in this scene, and Staunton does that brilliantly.