Show: Dear Evan Hansen
Location: Chester Storyhouse
On tour until July 5
Date: Tuesday, 18th March – Saturday, 22nd March
Time: 7.30
Running Time: 150 minutes
Age Rating: 12+
Book: Steven Levenson
Music & Lyrics: Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Director: Adam Penford
Set, Costume & Co-Video Designer: Morgan Large
Musical Director: Michael Bradley
Choreographer: Carrie-Anne Ingrouille
Sound Designer: Tom Marshall
Lighting Designer: Matt Daw
What a tangled web we weave, but ultimately it can be ourselves we deceive, even though we imagine we are doing something with the best of intentions. And once it starts to unravel, impossible to escape the consequences. In this instance, Evan has followed his therapist’s suggestion to write himself a letter to help with self-affirmation, but when it’s stolen by so-called villain, Connor, and tragedy ensues, the former ends up almost an honorary son in the latter’s family.
So often, children feel lost, yet their parents do not necessarily know where to go either. Or what to do. Heidi Hansen (a passionate turn in every respect by Alice Fearn) is preoccupied with her job and her studies, trying to make life better for her son, and doesn’t give him the time and attention he needs, Conversely, the Murphys have plenty of money, while Cynthia (Helen Anker), another seemingly strong woman, Is a stay at home wife and mother but still they are largely a family of strangers headed by Richard Hurst whose Larry is a decent man completely at a loss.
A further complication, having heard about this show, but knowing nothing about it, it’s difficult to decide exactly what to describe so that watching it will have the same impact on others as it did on me. At one reveal for example, there came an audible ‘Uh-oh’ from a member of the audience. Not only that, with all the raw emotion on display, your heart sinks over and over again particularly because Evan Hansen is such a nervous wreck as you watch him stumble through life. Ryan Kopel portrays him so brilliantly that the man taking a bow seems like a totally different person. In fact, it’s quite astounding the way the entire audience as so riveted when it could be as difficult to engage with several of the other characters: needy Alana, obsessed as much with social media as with being popular (Vivian Panka) and the infuriating sex-mad computer genius, Evan’s cousin, Jared (Tom Dickerson). Then we have the bad boy, Connor, whom Killian Thomas Lefevre brings to life in a stunning performance, which is…well, using outlandish to illustrate his hilarious clowning around may be a bit unfair, but his antics are in keeping with that exotic name. By contrast, the endearing heroine Zoe is courtesy of Lauren Conroy, who somehow manages to make her relationship with Evan almost believable; much as he grows stronger and more resilient – braver, throughout the musical, he is still basically a nerd.
And beautifully staged, from real-life domestic interiors of kitchens and bedrooms (even Evan’s bed looks horribly uncomfortable) to school halls, and outdoor, to the use of technology to evoke today’s world of blogs and Instagram etc – isn’t viral perhaps one of the most loaded adjectives you can have? Other effects include illuminating lighting and the constantly sliding glass screens which heighten the sense of isolation which affects everybody at some point: feeling alone even in a crowd.
It’s an extraordinary, exceptional show – call it maybe the best musical ever and I won’t argue, dealing with everyday subjects (family and friendship), plus, even more original in tackling the unbelievably difficult issues which make us all vulnerable such as grief and mental health; so much easier to sympathize with Evan’s visibly broken arm than his social anxiety. And all the more amazing due to the remarkable songs and music, off to a splendid start with the whimsical ‘Anybody Have a Map?’, then from the humour of ‘Sincerely, Me’ to the poignance of ‘For Forever’, ‘Words Fail’ and ‘So Big/So Small’, all from equally remarkable musicians and singers. Heartbreaking and heartwarming, the result was a full-hearted reception from an enraptured audience.
9/10