Dear Evan Hansen - Noel Coward

I saw this on Friday and although there were a lot of thing I loved, there was a lot I didn't. I love the score and Sam Tutty's acting is brilliant, but I wonder how long his voice is going to last. By the end of the show he was struggling and there were more pitch issues throughout than I'm used to seeing on the West End. I thought all the parents were at least 10 years too young and to me that made it pretty unrealistic.I think I was very much in the minority though as the audience seemed to love it and jumped to their feet for the standing ovation in a way I haven't seen that often.

Although I had listened to the OBC recording I had managed to keep myself from many of the spoilers so I found it extremely emotional.

Overall it seemed as new it is so I will be interested to see how it beds in. I have another ticket for January and am looking forward to it!

I sat in U7, one of the recently released £50 back of stalls seats. I'm not fussy at all about seats and usually buy the cheapest option but the overhang at the Duke of York's is significant and made it feel pretty closed in to me. I wouldn't have expected to pay £50 for that seat and prefer my usual C3 balcony seat for £25 which is what I have in January. The leg room was also poor. I'm 5'7" and my knees were jammed into the seat in front.

You know you can edit your posts Vicky? If you click on the little cog icon on the right of it, there is a list of options. x

We’re going this evening and I’m really looking forward to it.

On our way home now, a bit underwhelmed. The acting is just gorgeous from all, really great. I was half expecting someone else to come on as Evan in act two so frail was his voice. He struggled with his first two numbers and just about managed the rest. Thankfully act two’s songs are a bit more robust and use different corners of his voice.
Sam nailed ‘Words Fail’ so I didn’t leave disappointed.
Alex Lacamoire was in making notes (but not signing programmes) a stark reminder that this is still in preview. It felt like a preview. It felt like everyone had just had a day off and were remembering what to do again. You don’t get a tenner off in previews anymore though so its a bit cheeky. It fits the theatre really well. We were side-ish row B circle and only my wife's £80 seat was slightly restricted, again no cheaper.

My biggest criticism is how much like the cast recording everyone sounded. Sure it is early to have any sort of vocal interpretation, but its a little safe. Not sure what all the sobbing around me was brought on by. Only really ‘WF’ and THAT moment in ‘You Will Be Found’ inspired any sort of emotion really. 😕

Same. I might go to a matinee to see one of the others take on it, as like you say it might be in the direction.

In case it's useful - if you booked direct with Delfont Mackintosh, they will exchange it for another date for a £2 exchange fee if you phone them up.

The back row of the upper circle and the entire balcony is now on sale for press night next Tuesday.

His Waving Through A Window was honestly one of the worst vocal performances I've seen in a show ever. I was there last night too, and he just gave up after his voice cracked and decided to just scream it? It was genuinely painful (Although, perhaps not as painful as Jade Ewan's Jasmine...). He did get much, much better as it went on, though.

So, I loved the songs and knew before I went that I was going to love the music. But I can't lie that I went away feeling pretty cold about it? I think we're meant to feel sorry for Evan, but I'm not sure why we would. For all intents and purposes, he's a pretty vile character who only chooses to out himself as a fraud when the walls started to cave in anyway. I agree with you - the star of the show is Rebecca McKinnis.

I really thought I was going to love it and I was even looking for more tickets just before the show started... but I probably won't be rushing back to see it any time soon  I have a feeling that if I didn't know the broadway cast album so well, I'd have probably disliked it even more than I did. 

What a difference a few days makes! His vocals were amazing on Thursday. I’m there again tonight so will see if there’s a noticeable difference.

It appears Sam has called out of tonight’s show so maybe last night’s vocal performance was down to feeling under the weather?

Bless him! I’d give him Wednesdays off too, and keep him in a bubble. Weeks of rehearsal in safe controlled areas is no equal of actual performance in a big room of dirty coughs and winter bugs. They have enough covers to keep everyone well, so they should get them rehearsed and use them asap. They have a brand to build.

I think hiding him away from any discussion or criticism is equally misguided. Surely he has been schooled in all of this, and his mental well being taken care of from the outset. He’s unwell, they’ve covered it, he’ll get better. That’s the only story here. ‘New Members’ appearing out of the ether to stir up trouble are equally damaging.

Vocal tiredness is one thing, but so is knowing that you're not well enough to do the role you're paid to do. He's still young and learning and needs to find a way to perform when he is tired.

I don't see any issue with criticising the performance, tbh. 


I think with opening night approaching, it's good he's taking some time off if vocal tiredness is the issue here, but that doesn't change the issue with the quality of the performance last night. As a whole, his feedback has been pretty positive - his acting is amazing and he plays the part really, really well. He just struggled.