REVIEW: Hope and heart in ‘Dear Evan Hansen’
The UK touring production of Dear Evan Hansen, now running at The Theatre at Solaire, thrives on emotional clarity and uniformly strong performances. Anchored by Ellis Kirk’s nuanced Evan, the staging allows the musical’s themes of connection and hope to resonate without overstatement.
Directed by Adam Penford, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Steven Levenson, the show tells the story of Evan, a socially anxious high school student who longs to belong. When a misunderstanding spirals into something far bigger than he imagined, he must decide whether to tell the truth and lose everything or embrace a lie that briefly gives him the life he has always dreamed of.
Central performances
As Evan, Ellis Kirk is outstanding. His portrayal captures the mannerisms of a genuinely awkward teen burdened by social anxiety. Much of the story depends on his emotional work—especially his perception that his mother isn’t as present as he needs her to be—and Kirk communicates this with subtlety and restraint. He shines in the score’s most emotional numbers, carrying the show’s deeply internal focus.
Rebecca McKinnis as Heidi Hansen, is a standout in two of the evening’s highlights: “Good for You” and “So Big/So Small.” She doesn’t shy away from the unbridled disappointment and anger at her own son in the former number, while well able to convey warmth and deep and realistic maternal love in the latter song.
The cast of Dear Evan Hansen; Photo Credit: GMG Productions
Tom Dickerson’s Jared Kleinman brings needed comic relief. Zoë Athena delivers a textured Zoe Murphy, embodying grief, anger, confusion, and the stirrings of young love. The rest of the Murphys–Helen Anker as Cynthia, Hal Fowler as Larry, and Rhys Hopkins as Connor–are themselves compelling in their roles.
Complementing emotionality
Pasek and Paul’s score is staged with heft and memorability, its 16 numbers heightening the show’s emotional beats across two and a half hours. Carrie-Anne Ingrouille’s choreography acts largely as texture, sometimes calling attention to itself in contrast to the emotional realism of the songs. In ensemble numbers, however, the dancing adds energy and variety.
Morgan Large’s design frames the action with a mirrored box backdrop, housing projections by Ravi Deepres. These are relied on frequently but not excessively: sometimes showing real backdrops, like the orchard in the finale, and at other moments stylized flourishes such as social media posts in “You Will Be Found.” Large set pieces—the Murphys’ kitchen, Evan’s bedroom, the school’s red lockers—fill out the stage.
Costumes sit comfortably in the mold of American teenagers and middle-class adults. Evan himself wears a blue striped polo that feels like a close family resemblance to the Broadway original but not identical. These elements, elevated by Matt Daw’s lighting and Tom Marshall’s sound design, enhance the storytelling.
Strong themes
L-R: Zoë Athena as Zoe Murphy, Ellis Kirk as Evan Hansen; Photo Credit: GMG Productions
The material speaks most strongly to teens and Gen Z audiences, reflecting the social struggles of those still in the cusp of adult life. While social media is a factor, its impact here feels muted; the show is more about interpersonal fallout than broad public exposure that is the risk one runs when social media is at play.
What lingers after curtain call is Ellis Kirk’s performance: nuanced, deeply felt, and central to why this production works so well. With many shows running in Manila at the moment, audiences have plenty of choices for how to spend their evening at the theater. But to those who choose Dear Evan Hansen? Good for you.
Tickets: P1,904.40 to P7,406
Show Dates: September 4 to October 5, 2025
Venue: The Theatre at Solaire, Entertainment City, Aseana Ave, Parañaque
Running Time: approx. 2 hours and 30 mins (w/ 15-min intermission)
Company: GMG Productions
Creatives: Benj Pasek (music and lyrics), Justin Paul (music and lyrics), Steven Levenson (book), Adam Penford (director), Morgan Large (set and costume design), Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (choreography), Matt Daw (lighting design), Tom Marshall (sound design), Ravi Deepres (video design), Matt Smith (musical supervision), Michael Bradley (musical direction)
Cast: Ellis Kirk, Sonny Monaghan, Rebecca McKinnis, Zoë Athena, Helen Anker, Hal Fowler, Rhys Hopkins, Tom Dickerson, Olivia-Faith Kamau, Ensemble: Jake Halsey-Jones, Sheri Lineham, Joseph Peacock, Annie Southall, Ashlyn Weekes
Comments