Every now and then, I love to watch a new musical. I'm not a hardcore broadway fan, but I am very open to any new show I hear positive reviews about. So of course, I loved Hamilton just like everyone else did. I also enjoy other shows including Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, Heathers, and Rent, which that one has probably been my favorite. However, there has been a new musical that has been released that is making its way to the top of my list.
"Dear Evan Hansen" has touched me in a way that no other musical has before. A main character with a disorder that needs more awareness, a lie that enhances the story to keep you engaged, and hilarious comedic relief moments, this musical is all-around phenomenal. In a way, this is my review of the musical, but I also get a little personal.
The story focuses on a senior in high school named Evan Hansen (played by Ben Platt, who we all know as Benji from "Pitch Perfect"), who has severe social anxiety. His therapist recommends that he writes letters to himself. One day, he writes a letter to himself in the computer lab and prints it out. A fellow classmate, Connor Murphy (played by Mike Faist), takes the letter before Evan can get to it. Connor, who is a social outcast with no friends, takes his own life the next day. Connor's parents come to the high school to speak to Evan after they found the letter Connor took. His parents mistake it for Connor's suicide note addressed to Evan, since the letter ended with "Sincerely, Me." Evan, too scared to hurt the parents further, lies and says that he and Connor were secretly best friends. This starts Evan on a string of lies that leads him to build fame on social media and building relationships that he would never have imagined having.
I've mentioned in previous articles that I suffer from an anxiety disorder. It's very rare to have characters in any form of media to relate to when it comes to anxiety. I watched "Dear Evan Hansen" having no idea about Evan's character, so I was very blown away. Ben Platt did a fantastic job depicting a person who suffers from an anxiety disorder. I enjoyed the little things in his performance and connected to them very deeply. From the nervous ticks he did and how he seemed to be curling into an invisible shell when Evan was anxious, I saw myself in Evan throughout the entire show. One of my favorite songs from the show, "Waving Through A Window" , really gives you an inside look on how Evan truly feels. The chorus is probably one of the things that really made me have a connection with Evan:
On the outside, always looking in
Will I ever be more than I've always been?
'Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass
I'm waving through a window
I try to speak, but nobody can hear
So I wait around for an answer to appear
While I'm watch, watch, watching people pass
I'm waving through a window, oh
Can anybody see, is anybody waving back at me?
It wasn't only Evan's character that made me fall in love with this musical. I also enjoyed Connor's character, who is a prime example that Evan wasn't the only one who felt like an outcast. I can connect with that as well, because I sometimes want to think I'm the only one suffering from personal issues. As serious as the musical is, there is also some really clever humor in some parts of the show. It mainly comes from another character, Jared Kleinman (played by Will Roland), who is a family friend of Evan. The show also shows us through Evan's and Connor's parents that family is an important thing in our lives that we don't need to push away. There are just so many lessons we can pull out of this show and put into our own lives.
Aside from the story and characters, a musical isn't a musical without the best part; the music! Don't worry, the soundtrack definitely delivers. The music is written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (a duo also known as Pasek and Paul). Their work has also been featured in other productions and even films such as "La La Land" and "James and the Giant Peach." The soundtrack is available to listen to on YouTube, so I highly recommend giving it a listen. My personal favorite songs are "Waving Through A Window" and "Sincerely Me", which is one of the many comedic relief moments I've mentioned before.
All in all, I am so thankful for this musical. It is a wonderful modern story that young adults can really relate to and learn from. The cast, the stage, and the music is just all-around amazing. I give big two thumbs up to the entire cast and crew who made this musical possible. It was a really good reminder for me that no matter what mistakes in life I make, I am still able to get back up and make my way towards the sun. I still matter, and I will be found.
