‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is a poignant, modern musical that unabashedly tackles the anxiety of feeling unworthy and teaches people to be true to their authentic self. Apart from the entertaining plot (that I’ll go into later), stellar acting and powerful set, ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ has many memorable tunes, that will stay with you. I am one of numerous Evan Hansen fans who listen to the soundtrack weeks after the performance. Many of the songs (just like the play itself), deliver hard-hitting, important ideas through an enjoyable experience. Although this play is focused on a teenage school boy, I truly believe its message of hope speaks to all ages: ‘even when the dark comes crashing through… you are not alone’.

 

I had the pleasure of watching ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ a couple of weeks ago, and I still remember the experience like yesterday. My family, were set to see a play that had to cancel due to some of the actors getting COVID. Luckily, we were able to make a last-minute booking of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ instead – it turned out to be the best musical I have ever seen. ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is from the perspective of a teenage boy called (you guessed it!) Evan Hansen. Evan lives with his Mum (his Dad left when he was younger) and he struggles with social anxiety. Evan thinks of himself as one of the many ‘anonymous ones’. Evan Hansen is an isolated high-school student who yearns for connection with his peers amid the chaos of the social media age. Evan’s loneliness is not helped by the fact that his single Mum works long hours as a nurse and is training to be a paralegal.

 

The play follows Evan’s journey of self-discovery when a letter he wrote at the suggestion of his therapist leads to a huge misunderstanding between him and the grieving parents of a boy who took his own life. Evan soon finds himself in above his head, and an originally harmless lie (one that actually benefitted everyone involved) soon develops into a messy, complicated situation that leaves him conflicted between the difficult truth and the life he has longed for, for many years (one of a warm, always present family and the girl of his dreams).

 

To reflect the centrality of social media in teenagers’ lives, the set (through the majority of the play) had several hanging screens that each showed different features of social media. I also loved how the lighting was a gloomy dark blue until the last beautiful scene – where it turned light orange to show a vibrant spring-summer day in a garden.

 

In the words of Ludmilla Lupu, a fellow audience member, ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is ‘extremely moving and truly brilliant’. I agree wholeheartedly: the story, music, acting, set and lighting make ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ an unforgettable musical. I highly recommend it, go and experience it for yourself! It has also been made into a book and a movie. Whether or not you see ‘Dear Evan Hansen’, I hope that you have gained something from this article – and if you only take away one thing, then let it be: we are not alone. Ever.