Joanna Riding sings Losing My Mind. Stunning! — Page 2

Jordan Catalano said: "How has she never been on broadway?"

and

Michael Bennett said: "Joanna Riding has given some of the greatest female musical theatre performances of the past couple of decades - and they've all been in the UK."

I can see that Jordan's question is posed as a compliment RE: how talented Ms Riding is. But, as magnificent as Broadway is, the West End is equally brilliant (IMO). I would respond by asking why not consider scheduling visits to London's West End (as well as Broadway) to see some of these excellent performers?

I feel lucky that I got to see The Witches of Eastwick in London, back in 2000. Personally, I enjoyed the show and its score, but even more fun, it's cast starred three of the West End's best (and prolific) musical theater actresses: Maria Friedman, Joanna Riding, and Rosemary Ashe.

ljay889 said: "Man, I really did not enjoy that. Riding seems like a lovely actress, but that was completely overdone.

Here's Victoria Clark on the number:

"Hands down, the best note he ever gave me was that "Losing My Mind" is not a book song, it's a torch song. You, the actor, can't sing the song as Sally. You've got to forget that you're Sally and just deliver a torch song and let the audience draw the conclusions. He'd come up to me after every show and go, "Nope." I finally got it right to his candor during the very last performance. He gave me a big hug and said, "Yeah, that was it.""

https://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/patti-lupone-vanessa-williams-sondheim-feature_90797.html

The director's interpretation of the number in this London production completely contradicts the whole point of Sally's Folly. She's not supposed to be singing it as Sally. I'm shocked Sondheim allowed this, and also shocked that he seemed to love this revival.

I remember when so many complained on here that Bernadette merely "cried too much" during the number, but at least she was still singing it as a torch song, not as Sally."

Some dumb, and perhaps obvious, questions: Is Sally supposed to be angry during this song? Is she supposed to be singing, literally, as herself? The article suggests not. Riding certainly sounds angry, Staunton less so - but their anger seems directed outward, presumably at Ben. Bernadette Peters, by contrast, seemed sad and turning her frustrations on herself. Dorothy Collins' original version doesn't sound angry either on the OBC recording.

I'm new to Follies, having just seen it online after a local production was canceled due to COVID-19. And I'm quite taken by "Losing My Mind," which seems like one of Sondheim's most beautiful ballads that also conveys his trademark theme of regret.

Unless I misunderstood the musical, the performances in the second half of Follies are a series of fantasy sequences by the main characters that represent their plights but are not literally them. Actors and directors are going to put their own spins on the show. I found Peters' performance more moving. Riding seems like she was given too many things to do during the song, and I was confused about the wig (which might have made more sense if I had seen it). Obviously, there's a difference between standing there and singing, as opposed to rummaging around a table, drinking water and walking across the stage. It felt more realistic; people in fantasies and dreams don't need to stop and do other things.

But my gut reaction is that when you've got a great song, it's better not to mess around with it too much.

qolbinau said: "The whole production was highly underwhelming. Some interesting staging pre-Loveland but it was so literal and the singing performances myloweslife were awful*. I can't think of a single performance that improved upon the most recent Broadway revival in any of the leads or supporting characters. How I wish the 2011 revival was filmed .

Pretty cool and awesome.

* I did not attend again with Joanna Riding, perhaps regrettably."

Updated On: 5/13/20 at 09:37 AM