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Dear Evan Hansen Wolverhampton Grand ***** Almost 10 years on from its 2016 Broadway debut, Dear Evan Hansen remains a relevant and beautifully crafted piece of musical theatre, packed to the rafters with impeccably delivered, cleverly woven songs and a range of themes that both drive and power the story. Some of those themes, like friendship, love and grief are universal. Others, like mental health challenges and the pros and cons of social media are more niche but are given equal prominence here which makes for a journey that takes on more than its fair share of twists and turns. On a technical level, it’s nothing short of astounding. Transitions are super slick, signalled by short spikes of music whilst furniture and sets glide into place ready for the next scene. It’s almost filmic in its flow and seamless movement. Huge glass partitions slide and cross each other, creating moving, worldly windows to the various locations. Beds, sofas, kitchen units and assorted furniture appear within seconds whilst digital backdrops create stunning exterior locations. The wall of social media posts and videos that accompanies the shows most well known song You Will Be Found is a perfectly placed feast for the senses, creating a superb climax to a long but utterly enthralling first act. Lighting too, is spot on. From subtle, moody spotlights to blasts of white light and ‘sunlit’ orchards, the whole look is stylish and dramatic in equal measure. Ryan Kopel’s Evan Hansen is a study in mental fragility and well-meaning intent. Kopel delivers lines with genuine sincerity, deliberately rushed and spat out as his frustrations get the better of him . It’s a multi layered and superbly observed piece of acting. All performances shine. Music and Lyric writers, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul give all the main characters air time within the songs and the spoken dialogue is crisp and at times heart rending. The merging of dialogue into song and back into dialogue is beautifully done and never feels contrived. Songs run on from dialogue with a natural flow and serve to compliment the narrative rather than being ‘stand alone’ musical numbers Credit to a strong and cohesive ensemble including an impressive under study performance by Olivia -Faith Kamau, stepping in to play Alana Beck. Sometimes a show comes along that takes your breath away on every level. This is one of those shows. Innovative, compelling and perfectly crafted. It doesn’t get much better. Catch it while you can. To 05-04-25 Tom Roberts 01-04-25 |
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