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Korea's 'Dear Evan Hansen' isn't Broadway-quality. Its diehard fans don't care.

Published: 08 Apr. 2024, 18:20 Updated: 08 Apr. 2024, 18:57

LEE JIAN
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Park Kang-hyun, center, as Evan Hansen in the ongoing production of "Dear Evan Hansen" at the Chungmu Arts Center in Jung District, central Seoul. [S&CO]

[REVIEW]

Eight years ago, a defining piece of modern musical theater landed on Broadway: “Dear Evan Hansen.”

Snagging six Tonys and a Grammy, the production had theater critics fawning over the original writing (Steven Levenson), staging (Michael Greif), score (Benj Pasek and Justin Paul) and performance of breakout star Ben Platt.

It also amassed a massive fan base that sparked conversations about mental health, social media, modern family dynamics and grief.

By all accounts, it was clear that there was a never-before-seen special quality about “Dear Evan Hansen.”

From left, Lim Kyu-hyung, Jo Yong-hwi and Lim Ji-sub as Evan, Jared and Connor, respectively.

Those farther from Broadway witnessed the hype through headlines while waiting with hopeful hearts. They were meanwhile fed film (2021) and novel (2017) adaptations, though neither did much to satiate the appetite for their source material.

Last month, however, patience paid off for Seoul’s theatergoers. “Dear Evan Hansen” opened at the Chungmu Art Center on March 28 — the first production in the Asia-Pacific region. On the Tuesday of opening week, queues for merch formed well ahead of the show’s start with items selling out fast. Shutters went off against walls plastered with Evan-inspired décor. Fans were decked head to toe in the show’s signature blue.

Lim Kyu-hyung, left, and Shin Young-sook as Evan and his mother, Heidi [S&CO]

For any first-time viewers, the show itself is likely to satisfy — its strong, time-tested book and score leave little leeway for a production to completely go south. But the many fans of “Dear Evan Hansen” who've seen either the show on Broadway or the many performance clips floating around YouTube, may be slightly disappointed by performances that neither match those of their Broadway predecessors nor create roles that are entirely new.

Lim Kyu-hyung as Evan [S&CO]

“Dear Evan Hansen,” for those less familiar, follows the titular Evan, an anxious high school student who gets caught up in a snowballing lie while trying to console the grieving family of a classmate who committed suicide.

Under Korea’s multicasting system, audiences for this production can choose from three different Evans.

Park Kang-hyun, 34, is one of the hottest theater talents in the city now and likely an Evan that has the most number of fans. Debuting in 2016, he has been a popular pick for other new Broadway-licensed productions in Korea, starring as Orpheus in “Hadestown,” Anatole in “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” and Tony from “West Side Story.” He has also reprised the role of Gwynplaine from the homegrown show “The Man Who Laughs” three times.

Lim Kyu-hyung, 31, debuted in 2019 and has taken on main and supporting roles in a variety of musicals, including Boq in “Wicked” and Nigel Bottom in “Something Rotten!” He gained widespread fame after making it to the final round of the singing competition show “Phantom Singer” season 4.

Kim Sung-kyu, 34, is a K-pop boy band Infinite member who forayed into musical theater in 2012 and has since starred in over a dozen productions, many of which are locally produced like “Red Book” and “ Gwanghwamun Lovesong.”

Kim Sung-kyu as Evan [S&CO]

Park, on Tuesday evening, gave a passable performance. His spotless vocals were impressive, but perhaps the only standout quality of his performance.

The actor also has big shoes to fill. His slumped back, rickety eye contact and constant sweat-rubbing hands are so reminiscent of Platt's Tony-winning performance that one can't help but compare the two throughout. Park, to say the least, is not able to match the Broadway star's explosive energy. He lacks the power and personality that Platt famously brought to the role; while Platt's Evan was at times frenetic, desperate and even frightening, Park's is best described as very shy.

That's all the more true because the 34-year-old Park, at first glance, doesn't quite pass as a high schooler. It's especially jarring during Park's interactions with his mother, Heidi, which are visibly those of a fully grown man and an actor who is not too much older. The two factors coalesce to create a protagonist who is altogether less sympathetic than Platt's as he goes to greater and greater ends to deceive those around him.

Park Kang-hyun as Evan [S&CO]

Also sorely missed was the actors’ comedic timing. Writer Levenson, coming from the more time-and-text-generous art of playwriting, was mindful of adhering to the economic nature of musical theater scripts. The story, consequently, unfolds quickly, packed with intense emotions. It gives breathing room for actors and the audience by dotting the text with bits of funny lines and situations.

Park, as well as the whole cast, however, hustle through the show's 140 minutes without savoring too much of the fun. The show almost feels like it is moving too quickly — a rare complaint in musical theater.

For example, Park rushes through Evan's opening monologue so quickly that he doesn't seem able to relish it the way their writers intended. He may nail every word without twisting his tongue, but the underlying humor of the book slips through.

The role of Jared tends to serve as comic relief for an otherwise somber show, but Jo Yong-hwi's version of the character is louder than he is funny.

The Murphy family. From left, Hong Seo-young, Yoon Seok-won, Ahn Si-ah and Yoon Seung-woo play Zoey, Larry, Cynthia and Connor, respectively. [S&CO]

Hong Seo-young playing Evan’s crush, Zoe Murphy, was the only actor on the night to successfully bring her own color to the character while staying true to the text. Her Zoe is sassy, confident and wise.

Kim Sun-young as Heidi, displayed profundity along with a rock-n-roll spirit and vocals comparable to those of the role’s original actor, Rachel Bay Jones.

Kim Sung-kyu, left and Kim Sun-young as Evan and and his mom Heidi [S&CO]

But gritty notes aside, fans here were happy just to have sat through a “Dear Evan Hansen” show.

“Being able to hear this music live, alone, is worth the money,” Kim Jun-sung, 33, said during the intermission. “Everyone sounds excellent.”

“I’m just so thankful that it is open in Korea,” said Lee Hyun-ah, 27, leaving the show with Evan Hansen mugs and a T-shirt. “They could’ve done a really bad job. I still would have been fine with it.”

“Dear Evan Hansen” runs through June 23.