It’s a musical that my teenage students have been singing along to for a good few years now, but although a couple of the songs are familiar to me I’ve avoided getting to know this production better and steered away from watching the recently released movie.
The emotional songs hinted at a musical laced with teenage angst, but eventually the worldwide phenomenon that is ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ graced the streets of Leeds and so I risked the venture into the great unknown. And I was very much glad that I did….
First performed in 2015, the musical revolves around Evan Hansen, a lonely, anxious, 17 year old American high-school student who’s desperate for affection, a place to feel loved and a sense of completion in a world focused on social standing and social media presence.
He accidentally embarks on a journey of self-discovery when a letter he wrote to himself as a writing exercise for his therapist is found on the body of another equally isolated boy in his year group. The grieving parents believe this letter was written to Evan by their son and unintentionally, Evan is catapulted into a web of deceit, created initially to simply help the family come to terms with their loss.
It’s rare to have a show where a performer shines out so brightly that they completely, take command of the stage. In this case, it’s even more unique in that the character portrayed is so vulnerable and awkward. That takes a special skill and one that Ryan Kopel has in abundance. His performance as Evan displayed his emotional insecurities, whilst his honesty with the audience and complete lack of direction made him uniquely charming. His nervous mannerisms and repeated motifs highlighted his anxieties without making them exaggerated or comical. Our sympathy for his character was absolute and we could see the goodness within him, even when no one would have been able to explain away the actions he had taken.
On top of his astonishing acting skills he had one of the purest male voices I’ve ever heard; a clear tenor that sent shivers through the theatre. If you have watched the film version of this musical then I know many were put off by how old Ben Platt, who played Evan Hansen, was. At 28 he looked out of place amongst the high school corridors to say
the least.
In contrast, though 27 years old himself, Ryan Kopel thoroughly encapsulated the character of a 17 year old, sensitively showing his naivete and innocence. For this performance alone this show is absolutely worth seeing. That isn’t to say that there’s nothing else to rave about in Dear Evan Hansen.
Another stellar performance was that of his ‘family friend’ Jared, performed by Tom Dickerson. His loud, obnoxious character brought comedy to the play and in every scene, he just looked like he was having such fun on stage. My favourite moment of the show was the upbeat satirical song ‘Sincerely Me’ where Evan and Jared make up letters Connor has written to Evan. Killian Thomas Lefevre, who created another outstanding performance with the role of Connor, sang the emails the pair created, before all three joined together in a most ridiculous dance routine with utter energy and flair.
Other notable songs in the show included the opening number ‘Waving Through A Window’, highlighting the sense of isolation that Evan feels, the high musical jump into the chorus creating a melody that was memorable but emotional, too. Another impressive moment was the end of Act One with the song ‘You Will Be Found’ where the use of projections and powerful ensemble harmonies was effectively used to emphasise the social media world and how material can now travel with exponential speed across the world.
The musical is in not perfect. Act Two is much darker in tone and some of the ballads have a few too many verses, meaning the end of the play does drag. (The play was almost 3 hours long with the interval!). Some of these ballads lack individuality, too and the music becomes somewhat repetitive. As my friend said, why have the main love interest as a jazz guitarist yet not have her song as a jazz song, or even once have her playing said guitar? But these are issues with the musical as a whole and not the ensemble, who were strong across the board. The female roles may have lacked the more interesting musical material, but their acting was absolutely superb. The two mothers of the boys, performed by Alice Fearn and Helen Anker, made the play relatable for me as a mother in a way I never expected.
This isn’t just a play about teenage issues but it also addresses the turmoil that mothers in particular face when raising teenagers, meaning that it targets a much wider audience than I believed it would.
I definitely did a disservice to this production by believing it was going to be two hours of teenage angsts and complaints. This show took a range of topics that are prevalent in our society but are still rarely spoken about, especially those of social anxiety, male depression and suicide. The number one cause of death for men under 50 is suicide and only in recent years with support groups such as ‘MINT’ and ‘Andy’s Man’s Club’ are men being encouraged to talk about their experiences and emotions. For many, it’s a taboo topic and it could take years to break down the societal expectations that many men place on themselves.
Although the Connor’s depression wasn’t addressed directly, the effects of those left around him and the overall need to understand that everyone deserves to belong is powerfully seen throughout.
This show definitely isn’t just for teenagers, although if you have a teenager, I highly recommend you take them to see it. It might help them appreciate their importance in the world, and it may even help them to appreciate their parents a little more, too.
If for no other reason, you should see this performance just for the joy of watching Ryan Kopel create what can only be classed as one of the top three performances I’ve ever seen. Catch this performance at Leeds Grand whilst you
can…
DEAR EVAN HANSEN is presented by ATG Productions and Nottingham Playhouse by arrangement with Music Theatre International.
DEAR EVAN HANSEN is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tue 5–Sat 9 November 2024. Book tickets online at leedsheritagetheatres.com or call the Box Office on 0113 243 0808.
Main image: Ryan Kopel (Evan Hansen), Tom Dickerson (Jared Keinman) and Killian Thomas Lefevre (Connor Murphy)
Photography by Marc Brenner.
