[yasr_overall_rating]
The day has finally arrived. It's been almost 3 years since I waited to see the musical which won 6 Tony Awards in 2017 and we understand why.
The plot.
Evan is a high school student who suffers from social anxiety disorder. Her therapist advises her to write a letter to help build her confidence. When one of his classmates, Connor, commits suicide, Evan finds himself in the center of turmoil. In a misguided attempt to comfort the grieving family, Evan claims he was Connor's best friend. He creates an email to “fabricate” proof of their friendship. He gets closer to Connor's family in which he finds a new family. But he mostly gets closer to Zoe, Connor's sister, whom he's been in love with for years.
When Connor's fake suicide note (which is actually Evan's letter) ends up online, Evan finds himself the unwitting face of a viral video about loneliness and friendship.
Evan sinks into his lie and his relationship with his mother deteriorates, but he is no longer invisible to everyone.
Our opinion
Being a big fan of the musical, I knew all the music by heart and I was delighted to rediscover them in their total context. To finally be able to understand all the subtle references to other moments of the show and to be able to really enjoy the words and the subtleties of the music: it was a treat.
A real surprise for me was to discover the humor of the show. The topics covered, like suicide and lying, are very serious but there are good moments of laughter like "Sincerely, Me". The characters of Jared and Alana, perfectly interpreted by Jack Loxton and Nicole Raquel Dennis bring necessary moments of lightness. These moments of comedy also allow us to go from laughter to tears. This allows us to contemplate the extent of the damage created by Evan who thought he was doing well by giving, through lies, a little comfort to a grieving family.
Sam Tutty: a star
Ben Platt won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and it's easy to see why.
Here, Evan's young performer is Sam Tutti, 21, who has just graduated from Italia Conti.
He manages to capture our attention as Evan's character is very nervous, socially as well as in his lyrics. We are captivated by his sung moments including “For Forever” and “Words Fail” which made the 900 spectators of the Noël Coward Theater cry. Through his tears and his nervous laughter, he admirably performs one of the most emotionally and musically demanding roles in the repertoire.
We also note the performance of Lucy Anderson in Zoe Murphy. She too has just graduated and marks the show with "Requiem".
A dramaturgical gem
Dear Evan Hansen is a rare gem in terms of dramaturgy for a musical. Each word carries a certain weight on each character. All of this is connected to the plot of the show of young Evan who finds himself wrapped in a whirlwind of lies. Every relationship is complex and rich.
Evan becomes closer to the Murphy family at the expense of his relationship with his mother. Heidi Hansen, played wonderfully by Rebecca McKinnis, juggles her work as a nurse and her evening classes. We see her struggle as a single mother trying to give her son a better life. Her two songs are overwhelming: “Good For You” where she explores her frustration at discovering that Evan has a new “perfect family” and very moving “So Big / So Small”, a moment of forgiveness and love.
The decorations are minimalist and efficient. The stage is filled with screen projections that convey how quickly little lies get big and make us think about what we post online. But also shows that Evan finds himself trapped in this whirlwind of information and attention. One way to show the impact of social networks on our mental health.
The music is remarkable. A poignant and sublime score with very intelligent lyrics. The whole reflects the loneliness, the difficulties and anxieties of adolescence.
Two small flaws: I had a particularly bad seat, which did not allow me to enjoy the show as much as I would have liked. I couldn't even see that the band was on stage during any show! Second, I had wanted to see the show for so long that I was a little disappointed. I made the mistake of learning everything about the show. It ruined my experience a bit. I didn't have any real surprises, especially in terms of emotion, I knew in which direction the show was heading, especially emotionally. But the spectacle remains absolutely incredible. I will definitely go back (and better places haha).
To buy tickets
I strongly advise you to go see this show. An overwhelming moment that I will remember all my life.
This show is definitely worth spending a little more.
Tickets are still available online here.