Dear Evan Hansen; a wholeheartedly entertaining experience, finds former DT editor Freya Parr.
Just as Spring Awakening took a generation of young musical theatre students under its wing, so too does Dear Evan Hansen, the 2016 hit musical currently touring the UK. Exploring similarly knotty themes of suicide, social politics and the enduring struggles of trying to ‘fit in’, this musical will offer plenty for discussion among older school students.
The story centres around the eponymous character of Evan (Ryan Kopel) – incidentally offering some of the most assured vocal performances here – as he faces high-school torment as a socially anxious student with no close friends. He becomes unintentionally internet famous after becoming entangled in a well-meaning lie following the suicide of a classmate named Connor, who is brought back to life by Killian Thomas Lefevre. Evan navigates this complicated new world, eventually forced to confront the truth and reassess his relationship with his peers, his girlfriend – played sensitively and confidently by Lauren Conroy – and his mum, Heidi.
The production cleverly plays with your sympathies in a way that easily could misfire, but is well tempered, paced and judged throughout. An excellent lesson in story craft and narrative development.
At moments of internet virality, recorded clips on various social media platforms flood the backdrop. This is the result of the show's collaboration with TikTok during the audition process for this tour, in which it invited those interested in being cast to upload a video singing a number from the show. The set is made up of multiple smeared window panels, which are occasionally useful in choreographed scenes for moving cast members in and out of focus.
This run is the first time the show has toured the UK and Ireland, and will inevitably garner large crowds, thanks to its impressive reputation on the West End and Broadway – and its 2021 film adaptation. With this rich catalogue behind it, there's plenty for students to dig into and compare interpretations.
For those interested in studying the art of musical theatre songwriting, Dear Evan Hansen is a tic-box exercise in classic musical theatre motifs and techniques. While this may not be the most original musical offering, it does offer the audience a wholeheartedly entertaining experience.