Hello world! Welcome back to another blog. Today I will be giving my review of Dear Evan Hansen, which I saw on 28th September 2024 at the Nottingham Playhouse with my good friend Ben Grace from The Actors Workshop Nottingham.
As stated on the official website, here is the synopsis of the show:
"Meet Evan: an anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in. The thing is, on his way to fitting in, he didn’t tell the whole truth. And now must give up on a life he never dreamt he’d have. As events spiral and the truth comes out, Evan faces a reckoning with himself and everyone around him."
Sonny Monaghan did a brilliant job of playing the role of Evan Hansen. His sweet and innocent personality really gave it an authentic feeling to it, and you know when you know that someone is right for something, he is one of those examples. And his versions of “Waving Through A Window” and “For Forever” (which made me tear up a little) were just exceptional!
Alice Fearn also did a brilliant job of playing Evan's mum Heidi Hansen. As a parent I get why she got frustrated by Evan's growing bond with the Murphy's, but towards the end of the show, she now gets why Evan did what he did, and I’m hoping that after the events of the show things will change for her and her son, as seen in the song "So Big/So Small", which made me and Ben shed a tear or two.
Zoe Murphy (played by Lauren Conroy), was also a star. She and Evan had wonderful chemistry, and his lie actually somehow did her more good than harm. And their duet “only us” was magical to see. But despite being heartbroken from Evan's lie, I’m glad they’re still on speaking terms.
Evan's friends Jared Kleinman (played by Tom Dickerson but was referred to as a "Family Friend" by Jared himself) and Alannah Beck (played by Vivian Panka) also played a key part in the show. Jared's personality balanced the sensitivity of the show with humour where appropriate, and Alannah was keen to make an impression for the Connor Project. And I'll say why abit later on in this review.
The Murphy family also played a key role in the show. Connor (played by Killian Thomas Lefevre) was someone who was just struggling within the world, and his spirit made Evan realise why he really broke his arm. I also couldn’t imagine how his parents Larry and Cynthia (played by Helen Anker and Richard Hurst) felt when Evan revealed the truth after giving him the love that he so desperately needed, but after some convincing from Evan's crush Zoe, they decided not to punish him further.
The ensemble did a fantastic job in bringing the show together. There was no ensemble the first time I went to see it, so having them there as students and also having them to bring the group numbers together was a good idea. It brought the community feel to it and also enhanced the principals personalities as well.
The songs in the show were just as I expected the first time I saw it. There were some to bring the humour, some which were full of emotion and thought provoking and some which I couldn’t get out of my head. "Sincerely Me" was an example of bringing the humour, as even though it's in a bad situation, Jared managed to bring the funny bones into it. You Will Be Found" was also one that got to me, as it was a song that was widely used particularly during the pandemic, and is still relevant to this day. And finally "Good For You" is an example of how the lie has reached the limit, not only affecting Evan but those around him.
I loved how the set was designed for this show, as especially with the social media stuff and also around the number “You Will Be Found” is all about connecting on social media. And I wasn’t sure if the videos they showed were from real people or from the cast, but either way it did feel like I was going on a journey with them, showing that you do matter. This song also gave me the idea of doing something for a Christmas show I'm doing with my acting class. Whether the idea will develop or not, all I can say is, watch this space...
I don’t think I have any downsides to the show per se, but I got emotional about some of the stuff mentioned in the show. As someone who is autistic, being seen in a neurotypical world is hard, so I really connect with Evan on the level. And Heidi’s song at the end about his dad just shows where that insecurity came from. I also get why Alannah wanted to take the Connor project further, as she felt like it was her way to be seen. I just hope that this show will continue to grow a light that there is support out there for those who are affected by anxiety and are having suicidal thoughts.
Overall I would give the shoe a full house! Seeing it a second time makes me realise why it’s important to have the arts, as it helps people express themselves in a way traditional therapy can’t. And Ben certainly enjoyed it also. I can’t wait to se what the reviews are when it goes on tour.
And that was my review of this incredible show. As I’m writing this it’s now currently on tour across the UK. So see the link below to see where you can watch it in a city near you. And if you already have seen it let me know what you thought of it.
See you soon for another blog. Until next time…
This is The Autistic Actress signing off :)
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