A delightful doc about a delightful stage production.

I knew who Gilda Radner was thanks to my grandmother, who loved her on “Saturday Night Live” and introduced me to the filmed version of “Gilda Live” on VHS. And I knew who Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, Paul Schaffer, and Dave Thomas were thanks to movies and shows. But I didn’t know they all collaborated in a Canadian production of “Godspell,” until I saw the documentary “You Had to Be There.” This has one of the longest subtitles: “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).” And this is one of the most entertaining docs I’ve ever seen at the Boulder International Film Festival, and it was the Closing Night movie. So, it’s a bright and whimsical way to end this year’s festival.

“Godspell” was a play taken from the Gospel of Matthew and becoming a major hit in America, London, and Canada. The Canadian version took place at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, and the alumni consisted of Levy, Short, Garber, Martin, Thomas, Schaffer, Radner, Rudy Webb, Janye Eastwood, Gerry Salsberg, and Valda Aviks. And it also sparked a 1973 film with Garber reprising his role of Jesus Christ, who wears a Superman shirt as a modern day superhero or clown figure. This play was combined love, peace, and rock and roll. 

This doc expresses a lot of comedy and pathos, half the time in animation that feels like something out of Hanna Barbara. We see how Martin was devastated about not getting the role of Robin, until the original choice was let go, and given her hilarious material, she was given the chance. Short and Radner also dated for a while, but things didn’t work out between them. It also talks about how Eugene Levy took over the role of Jesus. And when the show came to a close, the actors needed another job. That’s when Schaffer and Radner went to star on “Saturday Night Live” in NYC, and when a major of the alumni stayed in Toronto for “SCTV.” And both sketch shows pioneered a revolution of comedy and entertainment.

Watching “You Had to Be There” is delightful and colorful, as the interviewees are friends and collaborators who reflect on the impact the show has given to them. Since there were no video recordings of the production, Short illegally recorded it with a tape recorder, and the animation I’ve mentioned was to represent the scenes they presented. The recording may not have been state of the art at the time, but it’s a great way to try to preserve the magic of the show. And through it all, there are big laughs and toe tapping music to keep movie-goers of all generations involved.

Again, I’ve never heard of the show before, but after seeing “You Had to Be There,” I’m glad I did, and the title makes absolute sense. I’m not sure how clear certain stories are, but it speaks for the cast and crew as not only collaborators, but also great friends over the course of 50 years.

Playing at the Film Forum in NYC This Friday

Expands Next Week