Dear Evan Hansen at Wales Millennium Centre – A Profound, Heart-Wrenching Performance
Stepping into the Wales Millennium Centre last night, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from Dear Evan Hansen. I had heard praise for its deeply emotional narrative, its soaring musical numbers, and the way it unflinchingly explores themes of mental health and social isolation. But what unfolded on that stage was beyond expectation—an exquisite tapestry of music, emotion, and raw human connection that left me utterly amazed.
At the heart of the production is Ryan Kopel’s Evan Hansen, a performance that is nothing short of phenomenal. With a voice that effortlessly transitions from fragile whispers to powerful, aching cries, he embodies every ounce of the character’s anxiety, loneliness, and longing for connection. His portrayal isn’t easy—Evan’s choices are complicated, morally gray, and deeply flawed—but Kopel ensures the audience sees the humanity in him, the desperation beneath the lies.
The rest of the cast delivers with equal brilliance. Alice Fearn’s Heidi Hansen is a powerhouse, her tender yet frustrated maternal love offering moments of raw poignancy. Lauren Conroy’s Zoe Murphy brings complexity and depth to Evan’s love interest, her voice carrying both warmth and sorrow. Killian Thomas Lefevre’s Connor Murphy is haunting, his presence lingering even after his physical absence from the stage. His parents, portrayed by Helen Anker and Richard Hurst, navigate grief and hope with affecting realism. Meanwhile, Tim Dickerson’s Jared Kleinman provides sharp comic relief, balancing the play’s weightier moments with a biting, perfectly timed wit. Vivian Panka’s Alana Beck completes the ensemble with a performance that underscores the play’s message about the overlooked struggles of seemingly “put-together” individuals.
The production is elevated by its stunning score, composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Songs like Waving Through a Window and You Will Be Found pierce straight through the heart, each melody and lyric woven seamlessly into the emotional arc of the story. The staging and set design deserve immense praise—simple yet striking, with digital projections immersing the audience in Evan’s world of screens, online messages, and fleeting connections.
What truly stood out was the emotional complexity of the narrative. Evan Hansen’s actions are undoubtedly unethical, his choices deeply questionable. But as someone who understands the suffocating grip of extreme anxiety, it’s easy to see how someone like Evan could spiral into such a situation. Anxiety often makes it feel like life is happening to you, rather than with your agency—and sometimes, as Evan learns, the ride takes you somewhere unexpected.
Five stars doesn’t feel like enough for a production that hits so deeply, one that forces the audience to wrestle with morality, empathy, and the human need for connection. Dear Evan Hansen at the Wales Millennium Centre was an unforgettable experience—equal parts devastating, uplifting, and utterly beautiful.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
