Very few times do we get taken inside a process that we as outsiders have only heard about. When the filmmakers behind "Every Little Step" took the idea of doing a film of the smash Broadway hit A Chorus Line, they turned it into a documentary not only of the history of the musical itself, but the try out of thousands of young entertainers as they compete for thirty parts for the revival of the smash hit in 2006.
A Chorus Line documentary in and of itself makes sense, since it had such an impact on the history of Broadway. The interviews with Michael Bennett are touching and emotional all by themselves, but when directors Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern added the touching element of thousands of young hopefuls trying out for a part in his revival, he shows the audience just how hard it is to get noticed. We meet several young talented singers and dancers as they make their way to New York, they come from all over, traveling on bus, plane and driving. Some make it the day of the try out, others have been waiting for days. Every person who submitted a resume got a try out, three thousand young men and women came to New York, to stand in the rain for hours on end, just to get the chance to dance. Some get sent home after the first dance try outs, thousands at a crack don't make it past the first cut. Those that do just get to dance some more, then they get to dance some more. Then the second wave of cuts is made, here hundreds get whittled down to a small group of about fifty. These fifty have at least acquired their dream of getting in the door.
The one small problem up to this point is the writers of the play itself, James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, are hardly mentioned at all, and this film leads the viewers to automatically infer that Michael Bennett created A Chorus Line on the basis of his marathon audio taping session of dancers, from which the plays characters and content were derived. Of course Bennett receives and deserves the most praise for his contribution to the creation of what would become the biggest show on Broadway, but to leave out his collaborators, especially as important as Kirkwood, is shameful. Similarly, there are entertaining interview segments here with composer Marvin Hamlisch, who delightfully credits Marsha Mason with making a key suggestion to Bennett regarding the fate of the character Cassie, for me that is one of the film's most informative moments. Mason gets mentioned here for her little contribution but Edward Kleban, who wrote the lyrics for all the songs is never mentioned at all.
The most memorable moment comes during the footage of an audition for the role of Paul by Jason Tam, this footage is heartrending and very emotional, his performance is top notch and should be seen. The principals, especially director Bob Avian and his casting director, are on their best behavior because the cameras are running, what we hear about what goes on behind the scenes never materializes. Although watching the audition process for a musical about the audition process is gripping insight on its own, what makes this film work is that it really gives you a sense how challenging, and grueling a process this is for both sides.
Some of the movies funniest and heartwarming insight comes from Donna McKechnie, who was in the original musical, we see past cast members as they get involved in the new casting process, helping the young hopefuls learn the steps and their lines. Every one in the audience will have their own choices for the cast, and when the cast is selected, we see the joy this news brings to each new member of the "Line". What is glossed over is that the audition process can take several months, here it was like eight,all this to work for maybe six months while the musical runs. This fact doesn't seem to bother any one of the new cast, they are all overjoyed to just be working again.
I give Every Little Step a 4 and on my avoidance scale a 0, this small independent film will make you want to sing along. The emotional scenes of the original performances of Paul and Cassie are breathtaking, when we see these new performers add their own unique touch, we are once again inspired to believe in the power of the stage.
Every Little Step is rated PG-13 for some Strong Language Including Sexual References
Running time is 1 hr. 33 mins.
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