Dear Evan Hansen shines a torch into teenage lives

Have you ever felt like nobody was there?

Have you ever felt forgotten?

Have you ever felt like you could disappear, fall and no-one would hear?

Let that lovely feeling wash away.

Maybe there’s a reason to believe you’ll be ok

‘Cause when you don’t feel strong enough to stand

You can reach, reach out your hand

And hope that someone will come running and take you home.

The film

If ever there was a film, or play, or musical which shines a torch on current issues, then Dear Evan Hansen, written by Steven Levenson and initially staged on Broadway, is a strong contender.

As the mother of two teenage daughters, this musical has been on the periphery of many a conversation, but somehow, life always managed to intervene and I have dismissed the work as something purely of interest to teenagers, a work of little musical merit and not worthy of my time.

How wrong was I?

This afternoon, sitting on a plane and with nothing else to distract me, I have marvelled at this most contemporary commentary on teenage life and the varied parental responses both given and expected. I would go as far as to say this film should be recommended viewing for all interested parents eager to understand more fully not only the vagaries of teenage mental health, but also the power, effect, influence, and consequences of social media on seemingly every aspect of all our lives.

With themes such as guilt, death, grief, honesty, acceptance betrayal and forgiveness all jostling for centre stage, this film adaptation really is a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving the audience ‘flipping’ from despair to elation, and back again, all in a matter of moments.

The lead role, played by the amazing Ben Platt was a real tour de force, but the thing that struck me the most was the startling change in the body language between the teenage boy crippled with depression, anxiety and more; and the confident and assured young man who relished the attention of both a loving family and that of his beau – in this case, Emily, fabulously played by Kaitlyn Dever.

So I would like to thank British Airways for including this film in its offering today, for introducing and including films and musicals such as this to a new and highly attentive audience, but more importantly…huge congratulations to Steven Levenson for having the vision to create such a work with such amazing musical merit, and one which is so much more than just a musical. 

It seems I should have listened to my daughter and taken her recommendations for West End viewing! This musical and its film adaptation really is representative of its time.

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