DEAR EVAN HANSEN theatre review by Thomas Routzong and Steven Skelley
For two nights, Broadway at the King Center and the American Theatre Guild present the national touring production of DEAR EVAN HANSEN in Melbourne, Florida. We have seen both the film version and the stage production of DEAR EVAN HANSEN and we find them equally disconcerting, insightful and inspiring. How can a story about two suicidal teens do all this? It helps to have fabulous dialogue, realistic characters and emotionally charged music that fully supports the evolution of the characters.
Evan Hansen is a senior in high school that is struggling to find a place in this world where everyone seems to have it together but him. An odd encounter with social pariah Connor Murphy throws Evan into the spotlight when Connor commits suicide after stealing a note Evan typed to himself as part of his psychological therapy. Michael Fabish portrays Evan with perfect heartrending angst. Alex Pharoa's Connor is a kaleidoscope of shifting emotions. Kudos to both actors for a job well done without making their characters stereotypes. In fact, the entire cast does a fine job of leading the audience along the journey through this difficult subject matter.
Songs like YOU WILL BE FOUND may bring both tears of empathy and tears of joy with these lyrics:
Even when the dark comes crashin' through
When you need someone to carry you
When you're broken on the ground
You will be found!
So when the sun comes streaming in
'Cause you'll reach up and you'll rise again
If you only look around
You will be found
Based on the book by Steven Levenson with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, DEAR EVAN HANSEN has won six Tony Awards (Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, Best Actor, and Best Featured Actress), a Grammy (Best Musical Theater Album) and the Olivier Award (Best Musical).
DEAR EVAN HANSEN is playing October 29-30 at The King Center in Melbourne, Florida. For more information, visit https://www.kingcenter.com/events
For more information about upcoming shows by The American Theatre Guild, visit https://americantheatreguild.com
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