Dear Evan Hansen Bombs in Australia

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 2:21am

Well the updated version of Dear Evan Hansen has been a financial disaster in Australia with the rest of the season cancelled and limping to a sad death in Melbourne in February ( if it makes that far ). I’m not a fan of the show, but I was surprised that any producer thought this was a good idea. Still one of the most vile things I’ve ever sat though. I found Evan to be unredeemable. For what I understand the updates did nothing to make him more likable. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 2:31am

Any more details on what specifically was changed?

[InvisibleBoy]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 5:44am

CATSNYrevival said: "Any more details on what specifically was changed?"

Only the staging, set, and choreography. The rest are the same incl the story. But Evan is less dramatic, I guess, not sure how to describe it. He didn't do the ticks that Ben Platt/Broadway Evans do (bear in mind I only watch the slime tutorials). I watched the show in Melbourne during the preview, and people loved it, and it was a full house. It should've been in a smaller theatre tho if they have difficulty to sell tickets.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 8:51am

Any pictures?

[morosco]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 9:33am

There are some photographs within this review of the show.

[Wick3]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 9:56am

InvisibleBoy said: "CATSNYrevival said: "Any more details on what specifically was changed?"

Only the staging, set, and choreography. The rest are the same incl the story. But Evan is less dramatic, I guess, not sure how to describe it. He didn't do the ticks that Ben Platt/Broadway Evans do (bear in mind I only watch the slimetutorials). I watched the show in Melbourne during the preview, and people lovedit, and it was a full house. It should've been in a smaller theatre tho if they have difficulty to sell tickets."

I just remembered Dear Evan Hansen premiered almost a decade ago in summer 2015 in Arena stage, Washington DC. It's a small intimate house. I'm a fan of the original production and what makes this musical work for me are the casting for Evan, Evan's mom, and Zoe and their chemistry with each other (Evan & Evan's mom, and Evan & Zoe.) I still remember how hard it was to get a ticket to see Ben Platt perform as Evan back in 2016-2017. In summer 2017 people would arrive outside the Music Box theater at midnight in the hopes of getting a standing room ticket.

I don't know how it works in Australia but I think it's always smart to start off in a smaller theater first especially if none of the cast members are well-known. Hopefully other productions of DEH will fare better in the future.

The Melbourne production trailer below:

 

Updated On: 1/21/25 at 09:56 AM

[MezzoDiva47]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 10:09am

 

this is not surprising

it bombed in toronto too

dear evan hansen is not a good musical

it sustained itself on broadway thanks to the hype that it was a ‘must see’ show

which was fed by the theater elites

including the tonys awarded by those same elites

it also fed on the reputation that it was ‘relevant’ due to the overdose of social media material throughout 

but when you take away the hype and the tricks and activate your brain the story falls apart

stylistically there isnt much variety in the music which makes every song sound the same

ben platt did put on a very unique performance and made the show seem better than it really was

but even his charisma had an expiration date as evidenced by the dreadful movie adaptation

it seems ppls eyes have been opened and audiences are realizing there is nothing interesting here unless you enjoy attempts to rationalize the actions of a whiny lying teenager

after everything the world has been through since DEH opened on broadway the central dilemma seems rather quaint

lets hope the world survives the next four years

MezzoDiva47 has spoken

bow down accordingly

 

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 10:13am

It's funny when someone dislikes a show and then blames its success on a shadowy cabal of "elites." 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 10:22am

Wait...is this the first time DEH has been professionally produced?  No tour?  No run of the original?

 

 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 11:31am

dramamama611 said: "Wait...is this the first time DEH has been professionally produced? No tour? No run of the original?"

Yeah, there seems to be some confusion in that regard. DEH flopped in Toronto, had two national tours (one still running), ran on the west end under two years, etc. 

This is not an “updated” version of the show, it’s just another non-replica production, which have been happening all over the world since at least since 2022. These productions are the same show as licensed, but are not replicating the Broadway production’s design or direction. The last UK tour and most international productions are not tied to the original production. I believe the show became available to produce after the film adaptation was released. 

[Kad]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 11:35am

Sometimes Best Musical winners are timeless hits. Other times, they are just hits for their time.

[binau]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 12:02pm

I just think people find the book icky and have issues with the morality.
 
If you cannot appreciate the craft of the subtext of how songs are used in this show I think you aren’t really appreciating the brilliance that Michael Greif brought to the show and why he is one of our most important directors.

For example, take “for forever”. The double subtext of 1. Evan fantasing about a friend he never had and 2. Comforting the family of Connor who believe he is saying something positive about their difficult child that is making them feel happy within a song that genuinely feels like it could be a sincere song recalling a great friend is EXCELLENT musical theatre in my opinion. 
 
Or take “you will be found” - the subtext of all the lies and deception within this song while also being a genuinely uplifting anthem is crazily skillful.

This kind of craft is difficult to do. 

Combined with Ben Platt’s virtuosic performance this was an excellent moment in musical theatre history and I don’t think should be forgotten or downplayed.

 

 

Updated On: 1/21/25 at 12:02 PM

[SingingEachtoEach]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 12:02pm

I imagine the movie bombing so spectacularly didn't help the shows reputation.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 1:11pm

Occasionally I forget I watched that movie and then I remember it in all of its horrifying glory. Jesus Christ.



 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 1:12pm

Or maybe THIS production  of it just wasn't very good.

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 1:22pm

binau said: "I just think people find the book icky and have issues with the morality.

If you cannot appreciate the craft of the subtext of how songs are used in this show I think you aren’t really appreciating the brilliance that Michael Greif brought to the show and why he is one of our most important directors.

For example, take “for forever”. The double subtextof 1. Evan fantasing about a friend he never had and 2. Comforting the family of Connor who believe he is saying something positive about their difficult child that is making them feel happy within a song that genuinely feels like it could be a sincere song recalling a great friend is EXCELLENT musical theatre in my opinion.

Or take “you will be found” - the subtext of all the lies and deception within this song while also being a genuinely uplifting anthem is crazily skillful.

This kind of craft is difficult to do.

Combined with Ben Platt’s virtuosic performance this was an excellent moment in musical theatre history and I don’t think should be forgotten or downplayed.



"

"You Will Be Found" is the closest the show comes to achieving greatness, and to doing what its probable inspiration, "World's Greatest Dad," accomplished. The difference, however, is that the Bobcat Goldthwait film allows itself to speak uncomfortable truths: that some people do NOT matter, are NOT worth living, are worth more dead than alive. The world is ultimately better off for Connor's death, like a reverse "It's a Wonderful Life," and "Dear Evan Hansen" comes SO close to acknowledging that and becoming a very dark comedy.

Instead, it veers towards trying to be inspirational, despite having created a plot, and even a series of songs, that are just aching to mock and deconstruct "inspiration porn." They just didn't have the heart to go through with it.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 5:29pm

darquegk said: "The world is ultimately better off for Connor's death, like a reverse "It's a Wonderful Life," and "Dear Evan Hansen" comes SO close to acknowledging that and becoming a very dark comedy."

I don't think that the show supports this latter conclusion at all. Connor is mostly a jerk and agent of chaos, but we also see that he's capable of at least one fleeting moment of kindness and connection. I know, or know of, more than a few people who met this description as teenagers and went on to live worthy adult lives.

"Instead, it veers towards trying to be inspirational, despite having created a plot, and even a series of songs, that are just aching to mock and deconstruct "inspiration porn." They just didn't have the heart to go through with it."

Again, I don't get that, but I can't argue with your own take on it! I think it's a decent show that doesn't live up to its lofty aspirations, but I appreciate it for what it is. (For the record, it was my third-favorite Broadway musical of that season.)

 

[joevitus]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 6:08pm

The antagonism towards this show always tickles me, the level of self-righteousness that always seems to be expressed. I'm not fan of the show--not because I'm offended by Evan or anything, I just don't connect with it--but when people are SO upset, that tells me the show did its job well. People don't have this sort of reaction to bad shows, and if they do, it tends to be focused on the production (direction and design choices) not the basic material. I'm always suprrised when people don't want to be confronted with complex characters that challenge them to feel empathy. But then I think of the big, spashy shows with not substance, and movies turned into Broadway tourist shows, and how they run forever, and I understand their success better. Nothing challenging at all, nothing real. Which I guess for many feels safe. So there's that. 

[Kad]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 6:19pm

But this show ran over 1600 performances over the course of over 5 years, so obviously many people had no problem seeing and enjoying it. Suggesting people object to it because they don't want to feel empathy for a flawed character is just as self-righteous.

[joevitus]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 6:24pm

Clearly, I'm not saying those who liked it and made it a hit lack empathy. But a clear sea-change occurred following the lockdown, and the show has never regained the reputation it had. Mostly because peope insist on seeing Evan through a black and white lens that says "Evan bad" so "not deserving of empathy." That's not something I read into their reaction, they usually say literally that.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 6:38pm

joevitus said: "Clearly, I'm not saying those who liked it and made it a hit lack empathy. But a clear sea-change occurred following the lockdown, and the show has never regained the reputation it had. Mostly because peope insist on seeing Evan through a black and white lens that says "Evan bad" so "not deserving of empathy." That's not something I read into their reaction, they usually say literally that."

There are plenty of beloved antiheroes far more loathsome or dangerous than Evan Hansen from enormously successful works, from the Phantom of the Opera to Breaking Bad.

Frankly, I think the show tries to be everything to everybody- it wants to create a complex character who does questionable things, but it also leans on pretty trite bromides and doesn't want to commit fully to its dark concept and social commentary on the superficiality, artifice, and manipulation of social media. It doesn't so much test the limits of empathy as much as it tells you should empathize, and muddies its own message in doing so. I think that's what turns a lot of people off to the character and the show.

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 7:09pm

Anyone with critical thinking skills hates this show. Broadway audiences usually lack critical thinking skills and that's why it was initially such a big hit "event." The film was rightfully met with shock and horror. Normal people were finally able to see this show and it became apparent what a trite and evil piece of trash this show is.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 8:02pm

We were never the audience for DEH when we saw the OBC in 2016-ish. I never got behind the script (and my husband DETESTED the final scenes/takeaway of the show). But  gotta say I thought the score was pretty damn superb, catchy and evocative and incredibly moving, vastly more moving than the script those songs were hung on. And how many times have shows with weak scripts but great scores been among the highlights of the decade when we've had time to re-assess them?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 8:58pm

I can't help but think how much this show will be produced in community & high school theaters soon and how the majority of their directors will make it unwatchable.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 1/21/25 at 9:07pm

Georgeanddot2 said: "Anyone with critical thinking skills hates this show."

Incorrect. There are fans of this show who are quite intelligent.