My 2008 TIFF Experience (8th in a series)

On the morning of Saturday September 13, I attended a screening of "Every Little Step" at the AMC-24 theatre, as part of TIFF 08. The film is a documentary chronicling the 2006 revival of the seminal Broadway musical "A Chorus Line". It combines archival audio tape and film footage of the original production with more current original footage of the casting process (shot from the dual perspectives of both the producers and the aspiring performers auditioning for the parts), together with interview segments (with composer Marvin Hamlish and performer Donna "Cassie" McKechnie, among others) reminiscing about their involvement in the original project.

The documentary succeeds on at least two levels. First, it captures how driven many of the performers are in their quests to land a part. As the film advances, the endless parade of competing Cassies, Vals, Mikes, Connies and Sheilas is slowly whittled down from the multitudes assembled for the first open auditions through to the two or three finalists that receive final callbacks. Second, it allows the audience to cast along with the producers-- to either confirm or second guess the professionals' choices.

Ultimately the real star of this documentary is Baayork Lee (who portrayed the Connie (4'10") character in the show's original run) , whose indefatigable energy and feisty spirit abounds, as she leads the auditioning cast members in their dance drills, encouraging and exhorting them to "eat nails"!

In terms of the archival footage and "talking head" reminiscing sessions, which comment on the gestation of the original show, the film is also revelatory. Viewers learn how heavily the "confessional' dialogs captured in the original "dance gypsy" group audio-tape sessions-- which were heavily influenced by show choreographer Michael Bennett (whose ghosts hangs over the show)-- ultimately informed development of the play's characters and the script's monologues. Also, we learn how how several changes in the final show (including, how a name change for the "Dance: Ten; Looks: Three" number (when it was in jeopardy of being cut) and the substitution of a happy ending in the final act (apparently at the suggestion of actress Marsha Mason)) were made in direct response to early preview audience reaction.

Every Little Step was very well appreciated by the TIFF audience (receiving a standing ovation) and the co-director (Adam Del Deo) in attendance intimated (in the post screening public Q&A) that a distribution deal announcement was pending.

Highly recommended.