Some shows aim to just entertain. Dear Evan Hansen does that – but then quietly breaks your heart when you least expect it.
It opens simply – Evan alone at his desk – and it’s not immediately obvious how clever the staging is. But as the story unfolds, the set comes into its own.
Screens, phone calls, messages and social media noise start to layer in, creating a real sense of pressure and how out of control everything is getting, and at times the stage is illuminated in an impressive way to really cement the moment. At times subtle, at times ‘in your face’ but at all times incredibly effective.
Ryan Kopel gave a brilliant performance as Evan.
He captured the nervous energy and awkwardness of the character perfectly, and carried the emotional weight of the show with real control, you really felt he was feeling every part of this, a vocal and acting performance that must be emotionally draining night after night, making it even more impressive.
As far as the character goes though I didn’t always feel for Evan – but I don’t think you’re supposed to. He makes some big mistakes and, if anything, gets off fairly lightly in my opinion.
But that moral grey area is part of what makes it work. It leaves you thinking after the curtain comes down.
The supporting cast were all solid, with everyone on stage bringing something to the story, and the emotional beats all landed well.
You could tell there were some superfans in the audience – a few big (loud) reactions after songs – which showed how much people care about this show and I can see why after seeing it for the first time myself.
This production gets the tone just right. It’s heavy in places, but not overwhelming. There’s heart, humour, and just enough hope to keep it from getting too dark.
A well-crafted, well-performed night at the theatre. Well worth a visit.
