Suspension of disbelief. Subverting the analytical part of the brain that says “that can’t be” is key to the experience of film, more so for the theatre. Is it easier, in these days of movies driven by computer enhanced special effects? A striving for realism or an overwhelming of the senses, a CGI three card monty so we don’t notice there’s nothing there? Theatre with it’s own share of spectacle. “My gosh, did you see what they crammed on stage?” You really have to project. PROJECT! Play to the back rows. Quiet, physical moments of emotion, become the hardest to communicate. In musicals especially, it’s socko-boffo razzmatazz, to keep your attention.
In the early 70′s, from interviews with fellow dancers, Michael Bennett wrote “A Chorus Line”. He created characters who tell their own stories trying to make it through a final audition just to have a job in the chorus. To keep dancing a little longer. Showing the sweat, dedication, and the grime that’s under the glitter. The narrative thread of their striving became the spectacle.
Every Little Step is a film about a recent revival of “A Chorus Line”. I’m not a fan of musicals per-se, Cabaret and All That Jazz are exceptions, but I enjoy nuts and bolts documentaries. I wouldn’t sit through a behind the scenes look at any “dancing-with-the-reality-based-survivors-cawing-and-srutting-for-celebrity-stars” if you paid me. An honest attempt to look at craft? How something is created? I’m there.
Callback, rejection. Romantics, realists and ego even at the bottom rung of art. It’s most interesting to see archival footage of actors performing in an original production, and then auditions of aspirants. Very different generations. Very different takes. Paul’s monologue about his character’s turning point as a dancer, gay man and finding out how his parents feel about him is a testament to a young actor who’s done his work, honed his skills but in the end just communicates honesty and humanity.
Who would you rather be? A dancer whose vocation can mean a daily dose of dashed hope? A producer who makes choices about careers that mean you may have to cut the same person again and again at different tryouts in different productions up and down Broadway?
Obviously, being a dancer means Every Little Step will be more resonant. But it’s hard work in small as spectacle and worth watching. – [DVD]
Documentary
Rated: PG-13
Directors: Adam Del Deo, James D. Stern
DVD Release Date: 10/13/09