Interview with the main actors
Dear Evan Hansen (2015) is an internationally popular musical that focuses on an anxious and lonely high school boy named Evan Hansen. At the Helsinki City Theatre, the role of Evan is alternated between Petja Pulkkinen and Julius Suominen.
“I appreciate that a young person’s loneliness is dealt with through the means of a musical and that it is done sensitively, genuinely and honestly. You can relate to the work,” says Suominen.
Many others have also found something to identify with, as the musical has attracted more than 1.5 million viewers worldwide.
“When I first listened to music, this grew into one of my favourite musicals. I just couldn’t think that this would come to Finland, at least not so quickly,” Pulkkinen says.
A musical about ordinary young people
The musical starts when Evan does an exercise given by a therapist in the school library and writes a letter to himself: Dear Evan Hansen…
The letter is stolen by a troubled and angry Connor, whom Evan barely knows. After Connor’s sudden death, the letter ends up in his parents, who mistakenly assume that Connor wrote the letter to his good friend Evan.
Evan doesn’t dare reveal the truth to Connor’s family, who very much wish Connor had at least one close relationship. As Evan approaches Connor’s family and becomes a school and social media celebrity campaigning against loneliness, the harmless lie begins to turn into an increasingly complex mess.
The musical, which deals with the feeling of being an outsider and the need to be seen, is praised by the actors for its themes. “I like the message and the fact that this is not at all ostentatious as a musical,” Pulkkinen says.
“This is a good description of what it is like to be a lonely young person and how difficult it feels to connect with others and receive support from loved ones,” Suominen says.
The first main role
Pulkkinen and Suominen know each other from before, as they are studying musical theatre at Tampere University of Applied Sciences.
Before that, Pulkkinen had played bass, danced breakdance, acted in hobby projects, and studied classical singing for a year at the Jyväskylä Conservatory. Suominen, on the other hand, has been involved in many different theatre groups since childhood, playing band instruments and singing. He became interested in the profession of a musician while studying at Vaskivuori Upper Secondary School.
Both have experience in ensemble duties in professional productions, but in Dear Evan Hansen they get to do their first major role.
“At first, I had no expectations that I would be included in the work, which reduced the pressure to perform in front of the jury. I just remember that I try to enjoy every moment. Along the way, however, a spark arose that something could come of this,” Suominen says.
“The process is so uncertain that even though the auditions went well, afterwards you start to wonder if I did that one part badly after all and if I think too much of myself now. It included a lot of panic and deep breathing,” Pulkkinen describes.
The call about being chosen for the lead role came last year just before the summer holidays. “I was going to eat at a student restaurant when the call came. The step towards Frenksu became faster into running, it was such a good feeling,” Pulkkinen says.
Suominen was eating with his friends at the same restaurant when he got the call. “I went to the side to answer and when the producer told me that I was offered the role of Evan, time stopped for a moment. It was an out-of-body experience, whether this was real life or a dream,” Suominen describes.
After the phone calls, the actors bumped into each other in a restaurant. “We were just cool: moro moro, what a feeling, nothing here. We smiled and didn’t say anything to each other,” the actors laugh.
When it comes to making musicals, they highlight the combination of three art forms – acting, music and dance – as the best thing.
“In musicals, there is an opportunity to convey and express the story in many different ways, the spectrum of emotions is wide. I like to sing, empathize and throw myself into shows, for example, where you can let all your energy out,” Suominen describes.
“It allows you to explore your own personal appearance and find completely new sides of yourself,” Pulkkinen says.
Expectations are high for the upcoming rehearsal and performance season.
“I’m nervous about the fact that this is only my second professional production, and I’m already stepping into such big boots, on HKT’s big stage. I’m looking forward to challenging myself as an actor and also as a singer. The songs are very challenging,” Suominen says.
Evan really has a lot to sing, as he sings through almost the entire musical.
“There are so many big emotions here that even though the songs are already starting to flow technically, I’m looking forward to combining the actor’s work, scenes and the emotional charges behind them,” Pulkkinen says.
And what kind of dreams do the two have for the future?
“I hope to be able to work in this field as diversely as possible,” Suominen says.
“Now that we’re up to speed, more to come!” Pulkkinen continues.
Text and photo Ida Henritius