Last night we went along to the Grand Opera House for the press night of Dear Evan Hansen. If you are not aware, it is a contemporary musical that explores themes of mental health, loneliness, and the human desire for connection. The story follows Evan Hansen, a socially anxious high school student who inadvertently becomes entangled in a lie after the suicide of a classmate.
I took my own socially anxious teen to see it as it is one of their favourite musicals. Indeed we saw it in the West End a few years ago. There were lots of younger people in the audience and you can see why this musical might speak to them.
Dear Evan Hansen is nothing short of extraordinary. From the opening note to the final scene, it delivers an unforgettable emotional punch that leaves you wrung out, moved and yet uplifted.
The story dives deep into difficult themes—grief, mental health, social isolation—with such honesty and vulnerability that it’s impossible not to be affected. Take some tissues. I had a lump in my throat the size of Clifford’s Tower and I definitely was not the only one.
The performances are phenomenal. Ryan Kopel’s portrayal of Evan is heartbreakingly authentic, balancing ‘adorkable’ awkwardness and sincerity with stunning vocal power. The cast as a whole brings unmatched intensity to the stage, with each character’s pain and hope woven seamlessly into the narrative.
There are some fabulous songs including “Waving Through a Window” and “You Will Be Found” that will stay with you and indeed are in my head as I write this.
At the end of the performance there was a unanimous standing ovation and rightly so in my opinion. It was absolutely amazing – the most intense and emotional show I have seen all year.
Dear Evan Hansen is at the Grand Opera House until this Saturday the 28th of June.
