After debuting a decade ago, audiences are elated to see the hit modern-day musical Dear Evan Hansen finally grace the Manchester stage as part of a UK national tour. With an impressive cast, innovative staging and a host of earworm hits – it was clearly worth the wait.
The musical follows Evan (Ryan Kopel) struggling to traverse his high-school days, he is an awkward outsider who struggles to form friendships in his often-cruel teenage years. In his efforts to fit in, Evan gets caught up in a web of lies that sees him finally be the one thing he had always desired – important. Over the runtime the show explores a range of topics from mental health, family roles and friendship all against the backdrop of a generation growing up completely immersed in the world of social media.
Set designer Morgan Large shows imagination by creating an impactful visual for those virial social media moments and seamlessly utilises both physical and digital set elements. The production does well to shuffle through set pieces with ease, allowing the story to shift between settings which often added to the comedic elements of the show. This coupled with Adam Penford’s direction helps to keep the pace of the show, whilst giving time and substance to the more emotional scenes.
Ryan Kopel’s turn as the titular character Evan Hansen is nothing short of a masterclass, an intoxicating dedication to a role he seems born to play. Kopel’s character development work is particularly impressive, crafting character mannerisms that immediately demonstrated who Evan was from the first scene. His vocal performance is equally as strong as his acting, his rendition of ‘Words Fail’ was engrossing to witness and a highlight. Seeing the character develop through the musical, whilst maintaining the essence of who Evan is, was a treat.
Elsewhere in the cast, Alice Fearn gave a grounded performance as Evan’s Mother Heidi, showing dynamic vocal range from the rock tones of ‘Good for You’ to the emotive ‘So Big/So Small’. For this performance, both Lara Beth-Sas and Will Forgrave stepped in from the ensemble to the roles of Zoe and Connor respectively, both effortlessly bringing heart to their characters. With covers stepping into lead roles, the ensemble did appear sparse at times, missing some of the impact they could have achieved as a full company. Despite this, a particular highlight was ‘Sincerely, Me’ which encompasses how this production is able to walk the line between emotional and humorous, with choreography from Carrie-Anne Ingrouille only adding to the fun.
Music and lyrics come from the formidable duo of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul of La La Land and The Greatest Showman fame. Their influence is clear for the standout song of the production ‘You Will Be Found’ which has become a poignant anthem, reminiscent of their Golden Globe winning hit ‘This Is Me’ from The Greatest Showman. However, outside of some key highlights, the musical numbers become somewhat forgettable, tonally hard to distinguish from each other. But coupled with strong performances, this doesn’t detract from the overall experience.
In an age where we celebrate the anti-hero, Dear Evan Hansen is a thought-provoking coming-of-age story that will entertain both younger and older audiences. It manages to discuss difficult topics in an engaging way with Ryan Kopel’s performance worth the price of admission alone.
Dear Evan Hansen runs at the Palace Theatre Manchester until February 22nd with tickets available here https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/dear-evan-hansen/palace-theatre-manchester/
Reviewer: Harry Alty
Reviewed: 18th February 2025
North West End UK Rating:
Rating: 4 out of 5.
