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Shining a light on the pressures of the millennial teen in a world dominated by screens and social media, Dear Evan Hansen is a musical for the present – bursting into life on its Scottish premiere in Glasgow this week.
This touring Nottingham Playhouse production is let down by a meandering second Act and lethargic staging, but is blessed with a faultless cast and an innovative new collaboration with TikTok that brings the story bang up to date.
The story is instantly relatable. Teenagers face an unenviable existence in the modern day, where social media only exacerbates the ever-present issues of belonging, popularity and anxiety.
Moulded by this pressure, and the desire to help others, tragedy presents the self-proclaimed misfit Evan Hansen an opportunity to break out of his self-imposed straight-jacket and into the mainstream.
Hansen’s soar to acceptance – in part motivated by his interest in girls – leads to a web of lies that inevitably catch up with him.
The rapidly-paced first Act is a delectable deluge of excellent songs, penned by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and genuinely gripping narrative. The inevitable reckoning comes in Act II, with very little else.
Scotland’s very own Ryan Kopel is a revelation as titular Evan, with crystal-clear vocals and a commanding performance of the tortured teen.
Rapturous applause at the end of his first solo – Waving Through A Window – is reserved by the King’s audience only for the rarest of occasions. Kopel deserves every second of its deafening gratitude.
His unique take on the nerve-ridden teen is brave and brilliant, churning stomachs with his anxious pacing and twiddling fingers.
Fellow Scot Lauren Conroy also delights as the uninterested, eye-rolling love interest Zoe. Surrounded by her grieving parents, Larry (Richard Hurst) and Cynthia (the exceptional Helen Anker).
A rock-solid supporting cast including West End royalty Alice Fearn, Vivian Panka and Tom Dickerson join a tight ensemble, the first to appear in this musical in the UK.
Even in the face of some sloppy opening night lighting, it’s hard not to see the light in the darkness of this tragic tale.
A story that highlights the plight many young people face, the musical’s pairing with mental health charities ensures that support is there for those who need it.
As Scottish audiences are treated to this affirming musical for the first time, it’s safe to say they won’t be disappointed.
Dear Evan Hansen at King’s Theatre, Glasgow until Saturday 1st March 2025, then touring
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen – 4-8th March 2025
Edinburgh Playhouse – 1-5 July 2025
More info: https://www.evanontour.com
Photo credit: Marc Brenner
