Review: DEAR EVAN HANSEN at Fulton Theatre

Ironically, Fulton Theatre ends their "fourth floor" season with a performance on the second floor.  Dear Evan Hansen serves as the premiere production in their new multi-purpose space, Castagna Hall.  This was an interesting choice, and very effective for the most part.

The set was deliberately sparse, with metal chairs repositioned different ways to represent settings.  A few large LED screens were hung on scaffoldings.  Sometimes they were used to suggest a settings, but more interestingly, they were also used to replicate computer and phone screens.  This was a valuable asset for a show so embedded in social media.

Lighting designer, George Hoorrocks did an excellent job using lights for emphasis, mood, and narrative.  Lighting  effectively served as the 9th character in this 8 character show.

My only minor complaint about the new set-up pertains to sightlines.  The cast often utilized a balcony that doubled as the audience's entrance to the venue.  I was unable to see any of the activity from my far-leftside seat.

Congratulations to Matt Setzer. the production's standby, who played Evan Hansen at my performance.  He is more than ready to be "cast" in the title role. Setzler conveys sincere vulnerability in both dialogue and song.  We might not always agree with the character's choices, but at least we understand him.

Jim Ballard and Amanda Rose are stand outs as Larry and Cynthia Murphy.  Ballard and Rose seem very authentic as a long married couple experiencing the tolls of intense grief both on themeselves and their marriage. Other stand-outs include, but are not limited to Kate Fahrner (Heidi Hansen), Ashley Calderon (Alana Beck), and Annalise Prentiss (Zoe Murphy).

Dear Evan Hansen explores grief, depression, and loneliness within the parameters of musical theater.  It is a good choice for audience members who enjoy shows that are both contemporary and heavy such as Next to Normal. While the plot relies on a number of unlikely coincidences, the overall message is both meaningful and needed.