Review: Rakas Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen

Written by Steven Levenson, Evan Hansen has been an award-winning success around the world. Helsinki City Theatre is now bringing the popular musical to the big stage. The composers of the work, Benji Pasek and Justin Paul, have written and composed music for several well-known films, including Lal a Land and The Greatest Showman. Expectations for a work that was unknown to me were therefore high.

The story begins dramatically when Connor Murphy’s parents find a letter in their dead son’s pocket. It is a letter of encouragement written by a high school boy, Evan Hansen, to himself. It is a letter that was not meant to be read by anyone. All of this leads to a lie that should never have been told. This is the beginning of a whirlwind of events, in the middle of which is Evan Hansen, a lonely and socially awkward young person who wants to find herself and be seen. Dear Evan Hansen is the story of a boy who wants nothing more than to belong.

The beloved Evan Hansen surprises with her freshness. The story does not stumble over the feeling of middle-aged screenwriters traumatized in high school healing their wounds and trying to bring their story to the present day by adding social media and youth slang to the activities. No. This is in the present moment and at the same eye level. At the same time, the references to social media have been made in a way that could be imagined to stand the test of time without the story becoming embarrassingly outdated in a couple of years.

The music is high-quality, uncomplicated and catchy. And emotional. I would argue that even many people who hate musicals can become sensitive to this work. In addition, the notes are memorable. They are still humming on the way home. It would be wonderful to hear such works composed in Finland as well.

When the story and music carry together with Kari Arffman’s precise directing, there is no need for frosting. The set design of Dear Evan Hansen , which takes place in the corridors and homes of the school, is boldly simplistic. Everything feels deliberate and purposeful. The most amazing thing is the seamless and fast transitions from one image and scene to another. Sets, projections, lights and soundscapes all work together to create their own world, without one rising above the other. Now we are really close to Westend’s technical prowess and precision.

The role of Evan alternates between talented musical talents Petja Pulkkinen and Julius Suominen, of whom Julius starred in the premiere. He built Evan’s trajectory in a wonderfully understated manner throughout the play. Correspondingly, Niki Rautén gives a truly incredible performance in the complex role of Connor. Amazing! Evan’s mother is played by Nina Tapio, who gets to use her voice in a couple of songs in a way that would really be enough reason to see this play alone.