Review – Dear Evan Hansen

Review – Dear Evan Hansen

Wales Millennium Centre 29-04-25 by Emily Garside

‘Dear Evan Hansen, this is going to be a good tour and here’s why…’

The first UK tour of Benji Pesak and Justin Paul’s Tony and Olivier-winning musical is a revamped version of this modern classic. It has much to live up to; beyond awards, there is a devoted fan base for the teen musical that originally starred Ben Platt in the title role. With a dedicated following, staging a non-replica production was a gamble for director Adam Penford, but it succeeded in this instance. 

Evan Hansen, a socially anxious teenager, inadvertently becomes involved in a lie following classmate Connor Murphy’s suicide. Ryan Kopel imbues Evan with a sweet, awkward charm that evokes empathy amidst his poor decisions. He also delivers the musical numbers with sincere emotion, cutting through the pop-rock of Pesak and Paul’s score. 

Pesak and Paul are undisputed leaders of the modern musical score, and Dear Evan Hansen holds up on that front. It’s clear that songs like ‘Does Anybody Have a Map,’ ‘Requiem,’ and, of course, ‘You Will Be Found’ are modern classics. And the orchestra on tour under Michael Bradley’s musical direction truly rises to the demands of the score. 

The show captures the isolation, frustration, and struggles of teenage life, effectively portrayed by the supporting cast. Killian Thomas Lefevre offers Connor a subtle dorkiness beneath his tough exterior. Simultaneously, Tom Dickenson’s Jared exemplifies the loneliness of the class clown, while pushy Alana (Vivian Panka) is made likeable and vulnerable. Among all, Lauren Conroy’s portrayal of Connor’s sister, Zoe, reveals the tragic story beneath Evan’s messy narrative. Her honest performance of ‘Requiem’ competes with Kopel’s ‘Words Fail’ for the show’s emotional core. When Koel performs his ‘11 O’Clock’ number in ‘Words Fail, ‘ he penetrates the awkward exterior, uncovering the hurt teenager concealed beneath Evan’s chaotic lies. 

Has the world of online fame and cancellation moved on since ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ premiered? Maybe. The lie Evan gets caught in feels like it would be exposed easily in today’s tech-savvy world. His internet fame seems less anomalous amid the constant noise of social media. The show highlights that Evan commits a terrible act but faces little consequence. Steve Levenson’s book never resolves this flaw—it’s believable that Evan gets caught up in the moment, finding friends in the Connors. However, despite confessing, Evan experiences no real fallout or genuine redemption, and against the big emotions and weight of the story, that doesn’t sit quite right. However, the themes of teenage loneliness, isolation and disconnect do feel stronger than ever, and the show will continue to connect powerfully with those audiences.  

Adam Penford’s direction brings out the heart of a flawed central character in this reimagined version of Dear Evan Hansen. And the team of young actors connect with the powerful themes that underpin Pesak and Paul’s award-winning score. Beautifully staged in a stripped-back, lower-tech version, it seems to centre the ‘You Will Be Found’ message at the heart of the show, which continues to make it powerfully resonate with audiences of all ages. 

Dear Evan Hansen is at Wales Millenium Centre until 3rd May 2025. Tickets here. 

Then on tour around the UK. Details here.