Dear Evan Hansen - A.C.T. of CT

The musical Dear Evan Hansen has always been an emotionally powerful show that, even though it debuted on Broadway ten years ago, is still highly relevant today as mental health has become such a critical issue for many high school students. 

 

Evan Hansen is an extremely anxious high school student, on medication and seeing a therapist for his debilitating condition.  He has no friends and, for all intents and purposes, is invisible to his peers.  He is alone, until a classmate commits suicide. Through an escalating series of lies, fueled by unceasing and insatiable social media networks, his stature and presence begin to change with unanticipated and distressing results.

Kenny Lee and the cast of Dear Evan Hansen.

 

The book by Steven Levenson is an emotional rollercoaster of impassioned scenes and straightforward honesty that connects to today’s teenagers.  The story can sometimes be agonizing to watch as the characters try to negotiate the new landscape that is developing, changing, and spiraling out of control all at once.  But Dear Evan Hansen is not just about angst and crisis.  It also focuses on a multitude of relationships that are spawned and changed from the events on stage.

 

The score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul is heartfelt with penetrating lyrics that explore the inner turmoil Evan is going through as he confronts a new reality.  The songs can be raucous with an in-your-face impact.  They are playful, with a serious undertone.  And there are tender ballads that reach to the depths of the character’s souls as well as reveal the agony individuals feel upon the death of a son.

Kenny Lee, Gil Brady, Heather Ayers, and Olivia Foght of Dear Evan Hansen.

 

Kenny Lee stars as Evan Hansen who, as directed by Scott Schwartz, is inexplicably overly apprehensive with nervous tics, and fixations like constantly pulling on his polo shirt.  While the character is supposed to be tense and susceptible to panic attacks, the portrayal is too over-the-top, which yields an imbalance to the production.  Lee, however, like the rest of the cast, does have a wonderful voice that successfully convey the struggles he is facing.

 

Josh Hoyt, Amaya White, and Kenny Lee of Dear Evan Hansen.

The other members of the cast are superb.  Olivia Foght, a recent graduate of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, is outstanding as Zoe, the sister of the deceased student.  The young actress deftly projects a lost innocence and whirlwind of emotions as she tries to make sense of the sudden change in her family dynamics and personal life.  Heather Ayers, as Cynthia Murphy, and Gil Brady as Larry Murphy, parents of the departed son, are terrific.  Their grief, confusion, and inner family turmoil strikes a chord with the audience. 

 

Kenny Lee and members of the cast of Dear Evan Hansen.

Maya Evans, as Evan’s mother Heidi, aptly and poignantly portray a mother frustrated and panicked over a son she cannot reach.  Erik Houck as Connor Murphy, the high school student who suddenly passes away, gives a marvelously layered performance in life and death. Josh Hoyt as Evan’s “relationship friend,” Jared Kleinman, provides a good dose of comic relief to off-set the weighty mood of the show.  Amaya White provides an exuberant performance as high school classmate, Alana Beck, a student not unlike Evan Hansen who yearns to be seen and recognized. 

Erik Houck, Josh Hoyt, and Kenny Lee of Dear Evan Hansen.

 

Except for the misstep with the character of Evan Hansen, Director Scott Schwartz proficiently guides the production from its inauspicious beginnings through to its cathartic ending.  He intelligently allows the material to unfold naturally without calling undue attention to the series of events that are unfurling onstage.  Schwartz skillfully incorporates the three mini-sets by Scenic Designers Christopher and Justin Swader into the show and nimbly integrates Camilla Tassi’s video projections of the social media maelstrom through pulsating, ever-changing window treatments.  Lighting Designer Charlie Morrison and Sound Designer Shannon Slaton effectively add to the hive of activity that enhances the dramatic tension of the musical.

 

Dear Evan Hansen, playing at A.C.T. of CT through June 21.  Click here for dates, times, and ticket information.