Dear Evan Hansen
Aug. 30th, 2015 07:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
imwaldeLast weekend I went to Arena Stage in DC and saw a new musical making its world premiere there this summer called Dear Evan Hansen.
http://www.arenastage.org/shows-tickets/the-season/productions/dear-evan-hansen/
It was so, so good. I saw it sort of on a whim (my aunt recommended it) having not heard about it, but I am so glad I did. It's the story of a kid having a hard time, who has no friends, who suddenly because of mistaken circumstances gets thrust into the center of attention. And he can have what he always wanted (people to listen to what he says! people who care and notice if he is there!) if only he lies. His therapist has him write letters to himself, e.g. "Dear Evan Hansen, today will be a great day!" as a pep talk. But at the beginning of the play, he writes one about how sad and lonely he is and how he could disappear and no one would care. A troubled kid at school steals the letter from him and still has Evan's letter with him when he commits suicide. The parents think it is their son's suicide note, and ask Evan about it. He lies and says he was friends with their son, and that lie, meant to bring comfort, inevitably leads to more.
The lead character was played by Ben Platt, who was Benji in Pitch Perfect. He was phenomenal. There wasn't a dry eye in the house (except for heartless robots) during his climactic number. I was teary at multiple points, actually. And the woman next to me was SOBBING. Bring tissues! The cast was uniformly great, and I loved the music. I was disappointed there was no soundtrack available to buy, but apparently that won't happen until spring, when they move to Broadway. At least that is what the lady at the theater said, but then I read something that said they were going to be Off-Broadway, so I am not sure, but either way, I'll buy it one day!
Keep an eye out for it, if it comes your way.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/04/theater/review-in-dear-evan-hansen-teenage-angst-grows-complicated.html?_r=2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/dear-evan-hansen-radiates-charm-and-wit-and-thats-no-lie/2015/08/03/9a263ee4-390b-11e5-8e98-115a3cf7d7ae_story.html
http://www.arenastage.org/shows-tickets/the-season/productions/dear-evan-hansen/
It was so, so good. I saw it sort of on a whim (my aunt recommended it) having not heard about it, but I am so glad I did. It's the story of a kid having a hard time, who has no friends, who suddenly because of mistaken circumstances gets thrust into the center of attention. And he can have what he always wanted (people to listen to what he says! people who care and notice if he is there!) if only he lies. His therapist has him write letters to himself, e.g. "Dear Evan Hansen, today will be a great day!" as a pep talk. But at the beginning of the play, he writes one about how sad and lonely he is and how he could disappear and no one would care. A troubled kid at school steals the letter from him and still has Evan's letter with him when he commits suicide. The parents think it is their son's suicide note, and ask Evan about it. He lies and says he was friends with their son, and that lie, meant to bring comfort, inevitably leads to more.
The lead character was played by Ben Platt, who was Benji in Pitch Perfect. He was phenomenal. There wasn't a dry eye in the house (except for heartless robots) during his climactic number. I was teary at multiple points, actually. And the woman next to me was SOBBING. Bring tissues! The cast was uniformly great, and I loved the music. I was disappointed there was no soundtrack available to buy, but apparently that won't happen until spring, when they move to Broadway. At least that is what the lady at the theater said, but then I read something that said they were going to be Off-Broadway, so I am not sure, but either way, I'll buy it one day!
Keep an eye out for it, if it comes your way.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/04/theater/review-in-dear-evan-hansen-teenage-angst-grows-complicated.html?_r=2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/dear-evan-hansen-radiates-charm-and-wit-and-thats-no-lie/2015/08/03/9a263ee4-390b-11e5-8e98-115a3cf7d7ae_story.html
