It’s hard being an anxious kid in high school and Evan thinks he has found the perfect way to fit in. However, He soon finds that not telling the truth can cost him a lot more stress and self awareness than ever before.
This musical is absolutely brimming with brilliant musical theatre songs and has a stand out score written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (You may recognise their names as the Oscar winning composers of the greatest showman). Dear Evan Hansen, it’s self, has scooped up plenty of awards in the past, including a Tony® Award for Best Musical and an Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
This is the first time that this hit musical has toured and after such great success in the West End and on Broadway, you definitely need to be one of the lucky audience members here in Cardiff.
Songs to listen out for include, Waving through a window and of course You will be found, but be warned that they will live on repeat inside your head for days after the show.
You want to know if the casting is as good as the writing don’t you? Well this is an easy yes from me. With Evan himself played by Ryan Kopel you are already in capable hands. I honestly can’t understand how he played this anxiety ridden teen with all his quirks and stammers so unbelievably realistically and how much he sucked the audience in to truly caring about him. It was the most confident performance of the least confident character and Ryan’s voice was the cherry on the top. Such an endearing performance, which left me asking “How is Ryan not really Evan?”.
Another powerful contribution was made by the vocally strong Alice Fearn as she played Evan’s Mother, who struggles to connect with and make time for her son. I also have to say that Killian Thomas Lefevre was absolutely spot on as Connor and teamed with Tom Dickerson as Jared, you had the perfect combination for the very funny song called Sincerely, Me.
It was really refreshing to see a high school based musical that didn’t include the usual stereotypes of ‘Jocks’ and ‘Cheerleaders’, but showed the characters that don’t usually feature as key roles (if any roles at all). The awkward ways, of the leading man, make this show so incredibly unique and beautifully thought provoking. The audience were right there with the cast going through their journeys with sounds of gasps and giggles throughout and many a tear were wiped from cheeks Throughout the auditorium.
You will regret not seeing this one for sure.
Dear Evan Hansen will be at the Wales Millennium Centre until May 3rd and tickets are available at Wales Millennium Centre Box Office
