You Had to Be There

by Mike McGranaghan

The musical Godspell, created by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak, became a worldwide phenomenon in the 1970s. Although it played on Broadway and in London’s West End, it was the 1972 Toronto production that has gone on to become legendary, thanks to a cast of then up-and-coming actors, most of whom went on to become household name stars. The story of this production is told in the captivating new documentary You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way).

Here’s who was in that cast: Martin Short, Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, Paul Shaffer, and Dave Thomas. With the exception of the late Radner, all the stars appear in the film to discuss their memories. Joining them are their lesser known but still accomplished co-stars Don Scardino, Jayne Eastwood, Valda Avkis, and Avril Chown. Together, they take viewers through the audition process, rehearsals, and the local fame that hit as soon as the show opened. They explain why the show - a rather unique take on the life of Jesus Christ - struck such a nerve. Its upbeat comedic tone was part of the reason.

Because these are funny people, the stories they tell are very funny. You can’t put that group of people together and not have shenanigans, romantic or otherwise. Short and Radner became a couple, Levy stepped into a leadership role when he was unhappy with some of the blocking, and one of the players hid microphones around the set to make an illegal audio recording of the show, clips of which are gloriously presented throughout. (Who says there’s no such thing as a good crime?) From a comedy standpoint, hearing these legends talk about their earliest days in the business – and their perceptions of each other – is nothing short of gold. Animated sequences effectively help depict events that were not captured on camera.

You Had to Be There goes beyond just a simple recapping of the Ontario production, though. Director Nick Davis gets the actors to elaborate on what Godspell meant to them. It’s apparent that a special kind of symbiosis took place on that stage. Everyone arrived with their own immense talent, then fed off each other, reaching heights they never would have dreamed possible. That collective magic elevated everyone’s game. Of course, Short, Levy, Martin, and Thomas went on to star on SCTV together, and the cast members continued working together in film projects, as well. The bond formed during Godspell was that tight.

The last section of the documentary focuses on what the actors did post-Godspell. Even though we know what they did, Davis is certain to tie it all back to that formative experience, making clear how the personal and professional relationships established during that time went on to have a direct, significant impact on the comedy world that continues to this day. As a sad side note, we get to hear how Avril Chown, who seemed headed for a similarly bright show biz career, became disaffected after experiencing a traumatic event on a post-Godspell television show.

That detour aside, You Had to Be There is a joyous affair about how this group of unknowns revolutionized comedy.