Dear Evan Hansen

New Wimbledon Theatre

The sound of sniffing fills the floor, audience members wiping their eyes from Ryan Kopel's tear jerking performance as the lead Evan. The show brings the audience together.

Dear Readers, this is a great musical and here's why:

If you are a musical theatre lover, then I'm sure you've listened to at least one song from this toe tapping musical. Last week the 'Dear Evan Hansen' tour landed at the New Wimbledon Theatre. The show touches on important subjects such as mental health, suicide and the over whelming power of social media.

Audience members were moved to tears as the main character Evan Hansen, played by Ryan Koppel, navigates his new school year after being off; as he was battling with his mental health. The shock of one of the school's pupils, Connor Murphy played by Killian Thomas Lefevre, committing suicide leaves the students devastated. It is later found that he was carrying a letter that Evan had wrote, and it seemed like Connor had written his final words to Evan... when it Evan's letter to himself that Connor had taken earlier that day. This sparks a chain of lies that makes Evan seen by his peers for the first time, his made-up friendship with Connor gives the Murphy family and students a sense of comfort. Whilst Evan gets trapped in his web of lies, he shuts out those helping him and social media, just like a spider, eventually comes to suck away this new life he made for himself.

This musical theatre staple written by Steven Levenson and the music/lyrics written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, is directed by Adam Penford. The direction focuses on the characters and the impact on them, rather than a huge emphasis on the social media presence in the story. Alice Fearn, the West End star, plays Evan's mother Heidi Hansen, she perfectly portrays an emotionally unavailable mother: how her work takes up a huge chunk of her time, energy and brain space. Whilst also showing the battle of her yearn for time to help her son, but needing to take as much work as possible to pay the bills and Evan's therapy. Her relationship with Ryan Koppel on stage shows how they both have a wall between them, that they are both frantically trying to overcome to be together and in the end a blossom of understanding grows breaks down the wall. The development and change of their relationship is what makes the audience feel and understand the emotions of their characters. Ryan Koppel gives a raw performance filled to the brim with real emotion, it's impossible to not be moved by his character. His portrayal of his battle with mental health, whilst trying to fit in with society makes his character relatable and as the audience can visually see his people pleasing nature, intense nerves through his shaking and frantic actions; this makes his character likeable. Which is impressive directing, because Evan's actions don't necessarily  make him likeable and the emphasis on his longing for family/friends and his intense anxiety make you understand his strange actions.

Family is bought into his life by the new presence of the Murphy family taking him. Larry Murphy, the father of Connor's family is played by Richard Hurst. Whilst he clearly shows his characters long for a close father son relationship with his son, that he soothes with a fatherly relationship with Evan, the lines he delivers do not always give a full picture of his pool of different emotions he would be experiencing. His vocals, whilst beautiful in harmonies, there are moments he slips into a louder, more operatic/classical almost tone that erases the confusion of his character and does not always contrast well with the other characters harmonising with him.

Design elements are clever and minimalistic at times, but this reminds the audience that mental health can affect anyone. The social media presence in the piece is shown through design, by projecting people's tik tok videos about the Connor Project, moments where a screen will slide, a square lights up and cast members when they are communicating with Evan through social media will stand in these squares and this mimics a phone screen. The bedroom scenes give a look into the minds of Connor and Evan, the bright colours and items show how it was their spaces where they can express themselves. The scenes in these rooms are where the characters fully come to life and expose their feelings. When Evan imagines Connor in Sincerely me, where Evan and Jared are fabricating the emails, they light up Lefevre as he comes on stage, his movements are animated as they write and edit the emails. This scene is playful, and the staging contrasts the playful tone.

This production clearly showcases the importance of the themes displayed and the hard work of the principal characters. The ensemble are not given enough emphasis to show the impact of Connor's death on the school as a whole, Vivian Panka who plays Alana Beck seems to embody this by herself. Choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, whilst musicality and actions contrast the music well, the style does not match the tone of a selection of the songs or give the students/ensemble an opportunity to show their individuality. This feels contradictory to the topic of the piece, their reactions, feelings and personalities are important to the plot and the inclusion of ensemble moments show how society is overwhelmed by the constant presence of their peers. It's a beautiful production and great adaptation of the characters, giving Evan more depth and a closer insight into why he makes the actions that he does. Ryan Kopel's performance moves the whole audience and his display of raw emotions, particularly in 'Words Fail' is the highlight of the show. Giving the hit musical it's glory!