Musical has plenty of heart

Pangdemonium's musical Dear Evan Hansen encourages open conversations about mental health

- Charmaine Lim

Dear Evan Hansen, Today will be a good day because Pangdemonium has brought this emotional and relatable musical to the Singapore stage.

Evan Hansen (Angelo Martinez) finds himself at the centre of an ever-growing lie when his letter to himself - written as a therapy assignment - is found in the pocket of school outcast Connor Murphy (Xander Pang) after the latter takes his own life.

Connor's parents mistake Evan for the only friend their troubled son had. Evan's lies begin to take a life of their own, and he is faced with the question of just how far he is willing to take things for his own chance at happiness.

Much of what appears to be gala-night nerves for Martinez, debuting as both a stage actor and musical theatre performer in the show, are easily masked by the awkwardness of Evan's character. Fumbled lines are barely distinguishable as Evan tends to stammer and repeat himself.

It is evident that Martinez has less stage training than other cast members, singing with a heavy vibrato that is better suited to the vocal runs favoured by pop musicians.