It’s back to the classic ‘theatre holding a mirror to society’ quote for Dear Evan Hansen, the award-winning Broadway and West End musical now in the early stages of its first UK tour. This Nottingham Playhouse production, directed by Adam Penford, has had some minor adjustments from the original.
If you don’t want to be immersed in the lives of socially awkward and social media-obsessed teens then this may not be for you. However, taking a literal view of the mirror analogy, these areas, and more, are tackled in a reflective rather than preachy way and serve to highlight the question: just how well do we know and understand each other?
High school student Evan Hansen (Ryan Kopel) is seeing a therapist to try and help him with his anxiety and depression and is encouraged to write to himself every day, with each letter beginning “Dear Evan Hansen”. Unfortunately, one of these letters—the one in which he professes his love for fellow student Zoe Murphy (Lauren Conroy)—gets into the hands of Zoe’s bullying brother Connor (Killian Thomas Lefevre). Connor later takes his own life, and, in a case of not wanting to upset Connor’s parents who believe this letter to be from their troubled son to his “secret best friend”, Evan goes along with this misunderstanding. He then compounds the situation further by embellishing their “friendship” with details shared with the Murphys that never happened.
Going from zero to hero, Evan finally feels wanted and accepted as his stature at school grows along with the online Connor Project and his welcome into the Murphy family home, from the father / son relationship he has never had, to a boyfriend / girlfriend relationship with Zoe.
This is a tenderly told coming-of-age story, and Kopel is outstanding as the troubled teen learning the hard way about the importance of telling the truth. Kopel’s portrayal of feeling like he is always on the outside looking in is powerful in its restraint, and the journey experienced by him and his overworked mum (Alice Fearn) has real depth and emotional heft. Their vocal performances too are superb, as are those by the whole cast.
While the subject matter of this musical tackles the difficulties of family life, not fitting in at school, poor mental health and the positive and negative effects of social media, there are lighter moments provided through Evan’s relationship with his family friend Jared (a nicely cheeky Tom Dickerson).
Video projections by Ravi Deepres are also a great device to show the life on social media element to the story. Morgan Large’s frosted glass and mirrored panels add to the “mirror to society” feel and are an effective complement to “Waving Through a Window”.
There is perhaps too much to cover in this story, and so it did feel to me like it was a surface-level skim of some issues, particularly grief. That said, there is much to reflect upon, and isn’t that also one of the good things about theatre, i.e. to leave you thinking afterwards?
This is a well-produced, well-performed and poignant musical, with beautifully sung, thoughtful songs.
(And should a young person be in need of support, The Mix is the official charity partner for this production.)