A Guest Review by Steve Roche
Evan Hansen, a high school senior struggling with social anxiety, is advised by his therapist to write a letter to himself: “Dear Evan Hansen, today will be a good day, and here’s why…”.
But small deceptions bloom into chaos and disorder: when the letter goes astray events rapidly spiral out of control. Evan gets caught in a web of lies after a classmate dies by suicide. He is pulled into the grieving family’s life and accidentally launches a viral movement about youth isolation.
It’s a clever and moving portrait of high school teens, with a tone that switches between gentle, satirical, provocative and tearjerking, through complex storytelling and seamlessly integrated songs.
The show questions the nature of community and fame in a world where people primarily communicate over the internet. The story was inspired by a real-life student who died from an overdose, when people who barely knew him suddenly claimed to be close friends. Combine this with social media culture and you have a musical about the desperate human desire for connection, for belonging and to be part of something – a desire that leads to making questionable choices.
The Jerwood Dance House set is dominated by an asymmetrical wall of semi-translucent screens on which digital projections materialize to show live action or supporting images, periodically clearing to reveal the ghostly shapes of the highly accomplished band. The ever-present smoke accentuates a permanently sultry atmosphere.
Dear Evan Hansen is an ambitious project for an amateur group, but Limelight Performers have taken it on with great energy and enthusiasm, and pretty much nailed it. This relatively new local group has an impressive and ambitious forthcoming programme.
The original score from 2015 won a number of awards and the songs are indeed fine examples of musical theatre. The 2021 film of Dear Evan Hansen was heavily criticised, translating poorly from stage to screen. But this cleverly staged show most definitely does work.
Sam Finan makes a splendid Evan, convincingly and consistently awkward, nervous, anxious and hesitant – until he begins to sing. Ryan Smith is engaging and likeable as Jared, with more than a touch of the Josh Widdecombe about him. Connor and Zoe Murphy are strongly and convincingly played and sung, well supported by the adult roles. The ensemble also put in a great shift, doing everything that was required of them, including some nifty scene-changing.
If you like a comfortable and cosy watch then this is not it. It’s a challenging, contemporary and emotionally potent production with the feel-good factor of a catchy score and lively choreography.
The result is a sad but also funny take on life in the social media age where it is increasingly common for people to feel isolated and need to know they are not alone.
The packed first-night audience at Jerwood was on its feet to show its heartfelt appreciation of this remarkable piece of work.
Dear Evan Hansen by Limelight Performers is at the JERWOOD DANCEHOUSE IPSWICH on Thurs 12th Nov, Fri 13th Nov, & Sat 14th Nov matinee and evening.
Book tickets here on the DanceEast Website
