Dear Evan Hansen after Ben Platt

[HD1313]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 12:24am

I saw Dear Evan Hansen back in March, and while I think it is a contemporary music theatre lover much like myself's dream, I found a lot of my awe-struck moments deriving from Ben Platt's (and Rachel Bay Jones, Jesus Christ, what a performance) performance, and it made me wonder if a different actor(s) in the role of Evan, and come to think of it, Heidi (Jones' character) could carry this show, or if the success of the show is solely coming from the actors and their performances. Thoughts?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 4:29am

It won't be the same, but I don't think it will be a death knell for the show.    

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 10:08am

I finally saw DEH this past Wednesday and felt that it was very much Ben Platt's show. I think the buzz and borderline mania over it (that stage door!) will keep it going for some time after he departs, but I also believe it will become a very different show then. However, I think it will be a case of "what they don't know won't hurt them"; those who didn't get to see Mr. Platt won't fully realize what they're not getting and will probably still be glad to have seen the show. 

Updated On: 5/27/17 at 10:08 AM

[Sunny11]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 10:42am

The success of La La Land gave  Pasek and Paul some mainstream star power in their own right. I think that they could be a selling point of DEH, like Trey Parker and Matt Stone are for Book of Mormon but to a lesser extent.

[ethan231h]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 10:43am

Keep in mind the reviews when Colton went on as Evan, everyone who saw him still loved the show the way everyone else does. Obviously Ben brings a huge force for the show, but as long as the actor can elevate the material to really show the angst and emotional detail as Evan, it'll be fine. 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 10:47am

Lot666 said: "I saw finally DEH this past Wednesday and felt that it was very much Ben Platt's show. I think the buzz and borderline mania over it (that stage door!) will keep it going for some time after he departs, but I also believe it will become a very different show then. However, I think it will be a case of "what they don't know won't hurt them"; those who didn't get to see Mr. Platt won't fully realize what they're not getting and will probably still be glad to have seen the show. 

I second this assessment. It's spot-on. 

By the way, Lot666, I was right across the street at BANDSTAND for the matinee this past Wednesday. We need a better way to keep in touch. Sending you a PM.

 

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 10:55am

CT2NYC said: "...By the way, Lot666, I was right across the street at BANDSTAND for the matinee this past Wednesday. We need a better way to keep in touch. Sending you a PM."

I'll be back at Sunset in a few hours for my "farewell" matinee. 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 10:57am

Lot666 said: "CT2NYC said: "...By the way, Lot666, I was right across the street at BANDSTAND for the matinee this past Wednesday. We need a better way to keep in touch. Sending you a PM."

I'll be back at Sunset in a few hours for my "farewell" matinee. 

DON'T TAKE PICTURES!!!

 

[froote]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 11:02am

Sunny11 said: "The success of La La Land gave  Pasek and Paul some mainstream star power in their own right. I think that they could be a selling point of DEH, like Trey Parker and Matt Stone are for Book of Mormon but to a lesser extent."

Nah. The average person that enjoyed La La Land has no idea who Pasek & Paul are. Damien Chazelle is seen as the Trey Parker & Matt Stone of La La Land. And if anyone was a particular fan of the music, they'd be more likely to follow Justin Hurwitz' work, as the La La Land stuff sounds nothing like the rest of Pasek & Paul's work

It's not like people flocked to In Transit because of Frozen's Kristen Anderson-Lopez after all.

Updated On: 5/27/17 at 11:02 AM

[Hellob]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 5:44pm

I think you can transition Mike Faist into the role 

[dianamorales]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 5:58pm

Hellob said: "I think you can transition Mike Faist into the role 

 

"Not even kidding, I have fantasized about this for so long.... but realistically, I want to see Nicholas Barasch do it.

 

Updated On: 5/27/17 at 05:58 PM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 6:21pm

I don't know if it will impact ticket sales, but I suspect the performance will not suffer a bit, as long as the replacement is talented.  I saw three different young actors in the lead role in The Curious Incident, two in NYC and one in Tampa.  I honestly did not think the Tony winning performance was any better than the other two...all were outstanding and heart-wrenching.  There are a lot of talented performers out there; and, while Ben Platt may be giving an extraordinary performance, others have the potential to do the same thing.  This is just not the same thing as replacing a seasoned pro who has a huge fan base from giving many previous performances.  When an audience wants to see Nathan Lane, they want to see Nathan Lane, not his replacement.  Ben Platt is not there yet.  IMO.

[bear88]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 6:44pm

It will be interesting how it does without Platt. But as good as he is, I don't see him as irreplaceable. Obviously, the producers will have to choose wisely, as the show won't work without a sympathetic and talented Evan. 

But the average person doesn't see the original cast, Ben Platt isn't a household name, and the producers haven't promoted the show as purely a vehicle for its star. Now I agree that the borderline hysteria surrounding Platt might calm down, and the show may be judged more on its own merits - without the crutch of Platt's performance. But I think it will continue to do well enough, even if it probably won't sell out every night. I also think Dear Evan Hansen will tour very well if cast properly.  

[Big Apple2]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 8:18pm

Alex Sharp in Curious Incident was fantastic in Curious Incident.  Still I see Evan Hansen as a more challenging role/ character to play than Christopher Boone.  While it can be argued that a good actor can easily step into and play Boone, it remains to be seen who can play Evan Hansen after Ben Platt leaves with the same intensity and still have a long life on Broadway. 

[denali.fire]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 4:54am

Taylor T rensch has certainly made a shift from Christopher Boone to Burnaby Tucker.   I know he was Boq in Wicked before Christopher but now in  that plaid brown clown suit.  I thought he was great. 

 

[Soaring29]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 5:11am

It'll just... EXPLODE. THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. FIRE AND WATER WILL SURROUND THE THEATRE AND THE SHOW WILL BE DROWNED IN DEVASTATION  AND HORROR.  IT'LL NEVER RECOVER. NOT EVER. THE WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME 

 

[denali.fire]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 6:44am

Yep. A zombie apocalypse is inevitable.  

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 8:54am

Jarethan said: "I don't know if it will impact ticket sales, but I suspect the performance will not suffer a bit, as long as the replacement is talented.  I saw three different young actors in the lead role in The Curious Incident, two in NYC and one in Tampa.  I honestly did not think the Tony winning performance was any better than the other two...all were outstanding and heart-wrenching.  There are a lot of talented performers out there; and, while Ben Platt may be giving an extraordinary performance, others have the potential to do the same thing.  This is just not the same thing as replacing a seasoned pro who has a huge fan base from giving many previous performances.  When an audience wants to see Nathan Lane, they want to see Nathan Lane, not his replacement.  Ben Platt is not there yet.  IMO.

 

"

The thing that made Ben special arguably the essence of the show is the fact that he's been with it for years. He co-created the role with the rest of the cast and creative team, and, therefore, you can always see some trace of Ben on Evan whoever is playing him.

[rjm516]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 9:31am

Platt's performance is obviously very special, but this show is so good it will be fine. It'll be just like any show with defining performances after the original cast leaves, it depends on the strength of the material. And DEH is fantastic and strong. 

[Dave13]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 12:16pm

As others have said, Ben Platt's performance is special.  I will say that I saw the show twice in December and then again on Saturday.  Ben didn't get as teary eyed as he did in December but I thought his performance was just as good.  

I do believe it is possible to get someone that replaces Ben that is just as good if not better.  The biggest question is how hard the show looks for that actor. 

[rjm516]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 12:35pm

""Not even kidding, I have fantasized about this for so long.... but realistically, I want to see Nicholas Barasch do it."

 

Oh my god I love this idea! He was so great in She Loves Me. The way he says "We're a parfumerie!" killed me.

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 12:44pm

Jarethan said: "There are a lot of talented performers out there; and, while Ben Platt may be giving an extraordinary performance, others have the potential to do the same thing.  This is just not the same thing as replacing a seasoned pro who has a huge fan base from giving many previous performances.  When an audience wants to see Nathan Lane, they want to see Nathan Lane, not his replacement.  Ben Platt is not there yet.  IMO."

I agree.

And I don't think any other actor could have created the character quite like Ben - the way he attacks a scene and is willing to go wherever the emotion leads - while at the same time being so damn vulnerable and likable you just want to run on stage and protect him. There was also some of that in his Elder Cunningham in Mormon. And vocally the part sails through his incredible range.

But now that the character is there in flesh and blood, I think he has created a template that other actors actors can follow. It will be hard matching the vocal and acting range required, but they are out there. 

It reminds of the challenge of casting Glinda in Wicked, a part tailored to the phenomenal/peculiar vocal and character abilities of Kristen Chenowith. It took Chenowith to create the part, but they found other actresses to step in to her pink shoes. Some even managed to bend the part to their own personality in way that still works for the show.

There will be other Evans. And some may even show us things we never imagined while watching Ben, Remember, this is what Ben himself did in Mormon - bringing a new take on a character that we thought Josh Gad had frozen (ha-ha) as a slovenly dim outcast.

Updated On: 5/28/17 at 12:44 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 12:53pm

He's not Cynthia Errivo. The show will be just fine. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 1:12pm

CallMeAl2 said: "Jarethan said: "There are a lot of talented performers out there; and, while Ben Platt may be giving an extraordinary performance, others have the potential to do the same thing.  This is just not the same thing as replacing a seasoned pro who has a huge fan base from giving many previous performances.  When an audience wants to see Nathan Lane, they want to see Nathan Lane, not his replacement.  Ben Platt is not there yet.  IMO."

I agree.

And I don't think any other actor could have created the character quite like Ben - the way he attacks a scene and is willing to go wherever the emotion leads - while at the same time being so damn vulnerable and likable you just want to run on stage and protect him. There was also some of that in his Elder Cunningham in Mormon. And vocally the part sails through his incredible range.

But now that the character is there in flesh and blood, I think he has created a template that other actors actors can follow. It will be hard matching the vocal and acting range required, but they are out there. 

It reminds of the challenge of casting Glinda in Wicked, a part tailored to the phenomenal/peculiar vocal and character abilities of Kristen Chenowith. It took Chenowith to create the part, but they found other actresses to step in to her pink shoes. Some even managed to bend the part to their own personality in way that still works for the show.

There will be other Evans. And some may even show us things we never imagined while watching Ben, Remember, this is what Ben himself did in Mormon - bringing a new take on a character that we thought Josh Gad had frozen (ha-ha) as a slovenly dim outcast.

 

"Are you saying he played the Josh Gad role?  I never would have expected that, which -- if true -- makes the point re this topic

 

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 1:31pm

Jarethan said: "Are you saying he played the Josh Gad role?  I never would have expected that, which -- if true -- makes the point re this topic"

Exactly. And he did it at 19 right out of high school just after Pitch Perfect. Trey Parker and Casey Nicholaw  were casting the Chicago company and were considering going for actors closer to the age of the characters. They chose him knowing that he would have to take Elder Cunningham in a different direction - which he did. He was like a golden retriever puppy - optimistic, naive, vulnerable and absolutely worshiped Nic Rouleau as Elder Price. Which made the sudden rejection at the end of Act One a gut punch that no one in the audience was expecting. He did almost a year in Chicago, then he and Nic were asked to come take over the Broadway company for a year in 2014. 

Updated On: 5/28/17 at 01:31 PM