DEAR EVAN HANSEN

US, 2021, 137 minutes, Colour.

Ben Platt, Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever, Amy Adams, Danny Pino, Amandla Stenberg, Colton Ryan, Nik Dodani.

Directed by Stephen Chbosky.

Before production logos and film titles come up, there is a cautionary warning that this film deals with mental issues and suicide. These themes pervade the film as well as themes of grief.

Dear Evan Hansen is based on a Tony and Grammy award-winning Broadway production, the book written by Stephen Levinson who adapts for the screen. There is quite a range of songs throughout, lyrics and music by Justin Paul and Benji Pasek.

Not every audience likes musicals. This is very much a 21^st-century musical, not like the musicals of Hollywood’s heyday. Rather, this is a dramatic story where the music and songs are part of the character development. This reviewer was a bit wary at the opening, especially when Ben Platt’s Evan Hansen begins to sing, voicing his stream of consciousness. However, Platt, who won a Tony for his Broadway performance, and despite the fact that he is in his mid-20s playing the role, seems convincing, winning over an audience.

The title comes from an exercise suggested to Evan Hansen by his therapist, to write letters to himself, expressing his feelings, his hopes for a day. This he does but has some encounters with an angry, dominating fellow-student, Connor (Colton Ryan) who signs Evans arm cast, after a fall from a tree, later attacks Evan, snatching away the printout of his letter.

The screenplay leads in an un-anticipated direction, Evan’s letter found afterConnor kills himself, the assumption being that this was Connor’s suicide note. What should Evan do? Tell his grieving family the truth? That he was not a friend of Connor at all, barely knew him? Though Evan was attracted from afar by Connor’s, sister, Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever) and there are references to her in the letter.

Evan, prone to depression, lacking self-confidence, empathising with the grieving parents (Amy Adams and Dan Pino) not only starts to make admissions about his friendship, but starts to fantasise, creating stories, getting his school friend, Jared (Nik Dodani, scepticism personified) to create fictitious emails from Connor to Evan.

As a consequence, despite Evan, many good things happen. An activist fellow student, Alana (Amandla Stenberg) organises a memorial, starts at home environmental movement to reinvigorate a orchard that Connor liked, Connor’s parents becoming more and more involved, Zoe becoming more and more puzzled, attracted to Evan.

On the way so much of this is communicated by the songs, not tunes, but melodies not easily memorised, more recitative style, all the characters having their turn to sing (even to some dancing), pleasing to listen to, enabling the characters, especially Evan, to express himself more convincingly, and for audiences to appreciate the inner sentiments of the characters. This is especially true in a climactic moment at the Memorial, the nervous Evan beginning to sing – and, this being an instant social media world, his being filmed, seen, followed, ever-increasing followers.

And, all the time, we wonder how Evan will emerge from this deception, with the truth will be told, and what the consequences will be for everyone. It is a strength of the screenplay that all these aspects are fully confronted, the truth emerging. And, in this, Evan is supported by his hard-working mother, Julianne Moore, misunderstandings, exasperation is, truth and reconciliation.

While so many aspects of this story deal with depression, are disturbing for the audience, the writers of the story are not without hope, even to finding some good in Connor whom everybody, except for his doting mother, could see no good in.

So, not every audience will be drawn in by this kind of musical, but for those who do, some surprises and values.

1. Adaptation of the Broadway musical, Tony awards, Grammys? The transition to the screen?
2. The home setting, the school setting?
3. The musical score, the songs, the recitative lyrics, the melodies? Insertion into the action, revelation of inner thoughts and feelings, revelation of characters?
4. Evan Hansen himself, Ben Platt’s performance, age, singing? His situation, living with his mother, mental issues, depression, the psychiatrist, the suggestion of writing letters to himself? The first letter, contents, self-confidence? At school, the reaction of the students,Connor and his attack, writing his name on the cast, at the printer, taking the letter, the consequences?
5. Evan, his friendship with Jared, Jared as a sounding board, the touch of the cynical, gay sensibility? Evan and his fears of Connor distributing the letter? His relationship with his mother, her work, absences, her loving support, but feeling it?
6. The news of Connor’s suicide, the effect on Evan? The letter being found, Connor’s parents coming to see Evan, the mother, her hopes, to know more about her son? The audience having seen, and not liking him? The parents attempt at rehabilitation? Zoe and her dislike of her brother?
7. Evan, confronted with the letter, his emotions, not telling the truth, the consequences? His having to pretend? With Jared and the fabrication of the text messages? The response of the parents? Zoe questioning? Evan, invited into the family, the meals, the conversations, the memories? Connor’s background, the stepfather, his mother?
8. Alana, the students, her enthusiasms, causes, checking with Evan, setting up the foundation, the orchard and the reconstruction, environment? Alana as a personality, her being driven? Relying on Evan? The decision to have the memorial service? The aftermath and disappointment?
9. Evan and the story about the orchard, walking with Connor, his favourite place? The work for the foundation, the money target, advertisements, campaigning, the money coming in?
10. The day of the service, Evan expected to speak, his unwillingness? His talk, the transition, the singing? The effect on everyone? The cameras, social media, the followers? The reaction of the students?
11. Evan’s mother, her surprise about his links with the family, the visit, the discussions, taking home? Her being upset? The offer of financing his college fees? Is mother’s refusal?
12. Social media, turning against Conor’s family, being rich, whims, their treatment of their son?
13. Zoe, Evan’s attraction, watching her with the music, her change of heart, talking with Evan, but then turning against him?
14. The unexpected response to Evan, the video of, playing the guitar and singing? Some consolation for the parents? The stepfather’s tears?
15. The moral dilemma, whether to tell the truth or not? His decision, his explanations, the reaction of the parents, Zoe? The effect on Evan, the discussions with his mother, the truth about climbing the tree and the cast, that he was contemplating suicide and failed? His mother’s response?
16. The freedom of the truth, his walk in the orchard, Zoe coming to talk with him, his graduation? His future?