Dear Evan Hansen UK Tour
Dear Evan Hansen, The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham.
Originally premiering in Washington D.C. in 2015 “Dear Evan Hansen” went on to take Broadway by storm in 2016 sweeping up awards as it did so. It ran there until 2022 but had already hit the West End and the big screen (there was a film adaptation in 2021). It is now on a major UK tour as well as having productions across the world. It’s fair to say it’s a smash hit.
The story follows high school student Evan Hansen who struggles with social anxiety and depression. High school can be difficult to navigate as it is but for Evan and his issues it’s a daily struggle, he’s outcast and bullied and just tries to keep his head down and make it through the day. To make matters worse he’s recently broken his arm so returns to school with it in a cast (that no one will sign). He’s an only child and lives with just his mother as his father is absent. She works every hour god sends at the hospital so doesn’t spend much time with him – mainly just making sure he’s taking his medication.
Evan’s therapist tells him to write a letter to himself every day to tell himself what will be good about that day. He’s in the school library printing out a letter he’s just written (beginning “Dear Evan Hansen”) when Connor Murphy ( another outcast – sullen, depressed, and a drug user) comes in. Having previously pushed Evan earler that day he offers to sign his cast as no-one else has (he signs name covering the whole of it). He then takes the letter out of the printer to give to him but notices that Evan has mentioned his sister Zoe in the letter (who Evan likes) and being paranoid accuses Evan of doing it on purpose so he would see it. He then leaves with the letter leaving Evan in a panic.
The next day Evan is called to the school office where Connor’s parents tell him that Connor took his own life the previous night and they found the “Dear Evan Hansen” letter in his possession – thinking that Connor had written it. They also see Connor’s name on Evan’s cast and presume they were friends. Seeing that his parents are in distress Evan goes along with it and then concocts a huge fabricated friendship that spirals out of control.
The piece is a fantastic social commentary on many themes – especially social media, where we see how people act regarding Connor’s death and how the previously ignored Evan and Connor suddenly become heroes.
Ryan Kopel as Evan is outstanding. He brings all the nuances required to the complex character and is totally believable in the role, and his voice is fantastic. Killian Thomas Lefevre is also very believable as the troubled Connor (although he dies he still appears throughout the show). Alice Fearn as Evan’s mother also has a fanatastic voice which really gets to shine in “So Big/So Small”. Another mention goes to Lauren Conroy who plays Zoe beautifully. The whole cast are fantastic.
The songs are wonderful – particular highlights being “Waving Through a Window”, “For Forever” and “You Will Be Found”. This show has a huge fan base and it’s easy to see why.
A triumph of the modern musical.
5 stars. Today was a good day – I saw this show.
