Every Little Step on DVD (musical DVDs in general): Wasted Opportunity — Page 2

Isn't being an overachiever a good thing if you're a Broadway actor?

Yes, seeing the contrast between the days only reinforces how it really can just depend on the day of the week and how when panic sets in, you can be your own worst enemy.

It was nice seeing Goldyn's journey, between the production and the documentary from potential understudy, to Val and Cassie cover, to FANTASTIC Cassie.

Cher's latest act of charity.

To belatedly answer your question, Pgenre, you might find the extras worth it, but probably not the commentary, done by the directors and Hamlisch. Given what you've said, it might be worth it for you to rent for them, but not buy.

"It was nice seeing Goldyn's journey, between the production and the documentary from potential understudy, to Val and Cassie cover, to FANTASTIC Cassie".

She made a fine Val, but was really miscast as Cassie. Much too young, for starters. They were forced to change the line "Seventeen years in the business and I flunk toilet paper squeezing" to "All these years..." because she was, after all, only twenty. I also found her MatM way too showy, flinging her hair around like a stripper. Instead of seeing Cassie, I saw Ms Goldyn trying to impress, and even though half her age, she was never able to reproduce Ms d'Amboise's backbend. I never did understand why she got so much screen time in ELS.

Updated On: 11/10/09 at 06:57 PM

Goodwin peaked at her callback, Rak had an off day. That's showbiz, but unfortunate, because I think Rak ultimately would have been a better Sheila than Goodwin was in performance.

Not to turn this into a Cher thread but:

"To keep the show fresh, she reinvents the entire show after each hiatus. In April 2010 she begins the 3rd return of her Vegas show... this one features the work of Tyce Diorio. She has a 3 year commitment to The Colosseum in Las Vegas"

That made me laugh. Anyone, even her most die hard fans (and don't get me wrong, I like Cher, have seen her a number of times live) would have to admit her tours and her Vegas show are anything but fresh. She's basically been doing the Believe tour/staging with small changes since 1999 and her Vegas production in its last hiatus virtually changed nothing (I think one number was changed) before its re opening. I suspect this will be the same.

I think Rak is incredibly talented and I think the documentary worked to make her look foolish. I think alot of what was shown of her was taken out of context and yes I think it is difficult to produce something you did six months ago. However, instead of really framing the insanity of that, it really seemed to accent more the idea that Rak couldn't "be on and produce", as though she was not talented enough. Also, they made her asking for an answer about if she got the part look like a diva tirade and not just the sheer mental exhaustion of the process.

I agree with a previous poster that Rak would have delivered a far more compelling Sheila than Goodwin, who in my eyes was a flat bore.

---

I thought Jason's audition was a little forced myself and from what I understand he had trouble reproducing that on-stage. What I saw in the documentary was nothing like what he did when I saw the revival. Not even close. A brief constipated look, but no tears and very little depth.

---

Charlotte's Cassie wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I didn't really dislike her, except for the way she sang words that ended in an "ooo" sound. I also liked Goodwin's Sheila. I was sad that Tony Yazbeck was out the day I saw it. I wanted to see him live in person.

He's understudy was cute, but I wanted to see him. I liked the guy playing Gregory Gardner, though.

What I think is compelling about the storytelling of the documentary is that they present the idea that the ultimate casting decisions are made based almost exclusively on the performances delivered on 'final call back day.' Perhaps this is because the show itself A CHORUS LINE kind of presents this mythology as how the business works (your future decided on the line in a single day) or perhaps thats really how the creative team on this project operated.

I'm one of the few people that thinks Rak comes off actually really tough and likable in this documentary. Her guts and charisma as a show biz survivor are more the spirit of A CHORUS LINE than anybody else we see in the piece. That she has been around long enough to be able to go to the casting director and ask point blank "Did I get the role" I think turned some people off or made them view her as bitchy, but to me its a really important wonderful detail of the film - and shows that Broadway is actually a community and that there are long standing relationships that are made and forged over time - its not all decided in a day...

But aside from Rak (who the film seems pointed to make you believe didn't get the role because she had an off audition at the callback) the film definitely shows Charlotte off in a good light - as having definitely delivered the strongest audition singing, acting and dancing wise on callback day. Again this idea that the "call back" day is all that ultimately counted. Ditto Jessica Lee Goldyn.

"But they did interview many OBC members who weren't used in the documentary. The bad blood isn't speculation, it's common knowledge. They used the interviews that showed Bennett in a favorable light."

Wasn't Bennett notorious for showing up unbeknownst to the cast members and immediately going backstage after the show and firing people if he saw something he didn't like?

It was neat to see the Tony Award Winning Wardrobe Supervisor Extraordinaire Alyce Gilbert sitting behind the creative team at the San Fran callbacks.

By the way here's a fascinating interview with Alyce. She talks about the backstage world and mentions several of the shows she's been Production Wardrobe Supervisor for (including CHORUS LINE, DREAMGIRLS, WICKED, WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, KISS ME KATE, etc., etc., etc.)
Alyce Gilbert video interview