DEAR EVAN HANSEN - Palace Theatre, Manchester (18/02/25)

There are only a handful of theatre shows whose message and overall narrative trajectory so profoundly affect you whilst present, and then remain with you after you leave, one recalls Fun Home, Next To Normal and Cabaret as prime examples. The overriding theme and moral of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s seminal work “Dear Evan Hansen”, aside from taking accountability for one’s mistakes, is one of individual visibility and the importance of connection amid the isolation many of us often feel.

With an expanded company and a significant visual glow up, this new production directed by Adam Penford has breathed new life into Pasek and Paul’s six time Tony-winning musical. The addition of an ensemble to the cast was a stroke of brilliance, as not only do they give the chorus a considerable boost, giving numbers like “You Will Be Found” a far more uplifting feel, but having them ever present in school scenes featuring Evan, in his presence but never interacting with him, very much highlights the isolation he often feels, especially in the first act.

Ryan Kopel and the company of Dear Evan Hansen (credit: Marc Brenner)

Having seen the show at the Noël Coward Theatre in 2022, I initially had misgivings about the emotionally manipulative nature of the book, and the lack of consequences faced by Evan in the face of his actions. However this new non-replica production seems to have clicked everything into place more cogently, as we feel a far greater sense of Evan’s internal turmoil, which is enhanced to haunting effect at times by Matt Daw’s lighting and Morgan Large and Ravi Deepres’ video design.

And this is a show that is almost exclusively centred around its title protagonist; Evan Hansen is often touted as one of the most difficult modern musical roles for a male performer, not only because of how much time is spent on stage, but the sheer vocal stamina and dexterity required to execute it. These things considered, it must be said that Ryan Kopel makes it look absolutely effortless, his performance as Evan was nothing short of extraordinary, the gradual development of his character, his acting through song, and the raw emotion he injects into the more somber musical numbers.

But perhaps most impressive of all was how he managed to maintain a strong vocal, with an incredible, particularly powerful upper range, whilst not losing a single ounce of his characterisation, which was simply astounding. Kopel is a superstar, and this will have put his name firmly on the map. The other major standout was Alice Fearn as Evan’s mother Heidi, her vocals are always enormously impressive, she brings sincere maternal sweetness, yet huge fire and fervency, and she delivers perhaps the most emotionally charged performance of the show, “So Big / So Small”, with such devastating beauty and vehemence, breaking every heart in the room.

Ryan Kopel, Tom Dickerson and Killian Thomas Lefevre (credit: Marc Brenner)

Helen Anker and Richard Hurst as Cynthia and Larry respectively depicted superbly the fractured relationship of Connor’s parents, playing off one another brilliantly, and Lara Beth-Sas as cover Zoe did not miss a beat, as she portrayed their troubled teen daughter, and it was remarkable to see how she built the character up. On the obverse, Tom Dickerson’s take on Jared was hugely funny, providing the much needed comic relief, and playing to the audience with great panache.

So much of what endears so many to this show, in spite of its obvious flaws, is how it wears its heart on its sleeve, as well as its hugely uplifting score by Pasek and Paul, but the cast of this production are the big selling point, and whilst the original west end production was what introduced me to the show, this new staging will be remembered for building on its success and improving what needed to be improved. Don’t wave at it through a window, make sure you will be found in the audience! Sincerely, me.

★★★★☆

"Dear Evan Hansen" runs at the Manchester Palace Theatre until the 22nd of February, before continuing its tour of the UK.