When Dear Evan Hansen first hit Broadway in 2016, it became the kind of musical every theatre lover was talking about. A socially anxious teen, a lie that spirals, and a soundtrack so moving it bagged six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. But then came the 2021 film adaptation, which didn’t quite connect. So when the musical finally hit Singapore for its first-ever run at Sands Theatre from now till November 16, I was curious: could this production redeem Evan’s story? Spoiler: mostly, yes.
At its heart, Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of Evan, a lonely high schooler who writes letters to himself as part of a therapy exercise. When one of his letters is found on the body of schoolmate Connor Murphy, who has just taken his own life, everyone assumes the two were besties. Evan doesn’t correct them. What starts as a well-meaning lie snowballs into a viral movement about hope and connection, and explodes into an identity crisis for our socially awkward protagonist.
Leading the Singapore cast is Ellis Kirk, reprising his role from the West End. He plays Evan with just the right balance of jittery energy and aching vulnerability – you can practically feel his heart pounding through that iconic cast on his arm. On the other hand, Tom Dickerson as the delightfully snarky Jared Kleinman steals every scene he’s in. The chemistry between the ensemble keeps things buoyant, even when the subject matter turns heavy.
However, Rebecca McKinnis, who also reprises her London role as Evan’s mother Heidi, delivers one of the most moving numbers of the night with 'So Big/So Small', proving once again that mums in musicals are the emotional anchors we don’t deserve.
Speaking of songs, there’s no denying that the award-winning score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul – the duo behind the songwriting in The Greatest Showman and La La Land – is the emotional core. But once you’ve seen the gut-punching anthem 'You Will Be Found' performed in context, it’s hard not to feel the discomfort simmering beneath the sentiment. This is, after all, a story about how the internet canonises a lie, and how desperate we all are to feel seen.
Plus, the set cleverly uses digital projections to mimic the endless scroll of social media, reminding us how quickly connection can turn into chaos. It’s visually slick without overshadowing the performances.
That said, the emotional payoff doesn’t quite land with the force it promises. The story builds towards a cathartic reckoning, only to fizzle in the final act. Evan learns his lesson, sure, but the other characters feel left hanging, their moral arcs half-drawn. Maybe that’s intentional – after all, life rarely wraps up neatly. Still, a touch more introspection wouldn’t have gone amiss.
But when Dear Evan Hansen hits, it really hits. Beneath the slick production and big ballads lies something raw and painfully familiar – the ache of loneliness, the craving to belong, the fear of being truly seen. It’s not the cheeriest night out, but it’s undeniably powerful and sticks with you long after the final note fades.
Tickets start from $68. Book yours here.
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