Every Little Step

Synopsis: A Chorus Line premiered in 1975 and became a phenomenally successful Broadway musical and spawned a 1985 Richard Attenborough film version. Every Little Step both looks at the original musical and the casting for a new Broadway production which was mounted in 2008 under the tutelage of Bob Avian, Michael Bennett's fellow-choreographer in the 1975 production.

A Chorus Line is far from being my favourite musical and Richard Attenborough’s film did not improve matters. Musicals are, of course, commonly about “putting on a show” and the backstage trials and tribulations involved in getting to opening night. A Chorus Line was about that but rather than the jaunty “there’s no business like show business” Hollywood version of it, it addressed the daunting reality. Or at least was it a stage version of that reality. Which is probably why I didn’t like it. It was neither one thing nor the other.  When it comes to musicals, give me the glam and spare me the sob story, please

The strength of Every Little Step is that the actual reality of those who dream of standing before the bright lights of Broadway is on show for us all to see. As such it will appeal to anyone interested in musical theatre. It is however about aspiration full stop and on this level it has a broader relevance. These is nothing new in this human pageant but it is often rawly moving.  Whether seasoned performers or out-of-town tyros these hopefuls are putting themselves on the line with everything they have. As one of the candidates puts it: “It’s not for the weak of heart”. And she wasn’t talking about people with cardiac problems.

Every Little Step cuts between archival footage related to and interviews with cast and crew involved in the original Michael Bennett-inspired production and the gruelling 8 month process of recruiting cast for the new version of a show that has very clearly-defined and much-loved characters.  Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern’s documentary picks a handful of hopefuls and follows their journey from the initial cattle-yard throng to that crucial final moment that will either lift them on the wings of eagles or cast them to the rocks below. Wisely, they spare us the voyeuristic tendencies of reality television with their OMG highs and tearful lows and instead focus on the business side of things. It is a quality embodied in Baayork Lee, the dancer who played Connie in the original production and who is one of the casting directors here. Although she is now a rotund little matron her firecracker energy is a sight to behold and confirmation that in life's journey every little step counts.

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