You will be found

Broadway phenomenon Dear Evan Hansen brings provocative show to San Antonio

Stephen Christopher Anthony in Dear Evan Hansen.

Dear Evan Hansen heads to San Antonio this week.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Surviving the social ails of high school is a feat in itself. Many can relate to having some level of anxiety and feeling like an outsider during those sometimes challenging adolescent years (and those that follow).

It’s in part those relatable feelings that have lead Dear Evan Hansen to becoming an award-winning Broadway phenomenon, spurring conversations about important topics commonly shied away from, including depression, anxiety, and suicide. The national tour of the hit musical spend the end of 2019 performing eight shows in San Antonio.

Stephanie La Rochelle is looking forward to the show’s San Antonio run at Majestic Theatre December 17-22. La Rochelle, an aspiring country music singer from Ottawa, Canada, joined the show in September as Zoe, Evan’s love interest (this is only her second professional theater credit). La Rochelle is one of four Canadians in the onstage cast of eight.

“I wasn’t focused on theater but this popped up and I went for it,” she explains. “The show is so intimate, it almost feels like a film on stage. It’s very raw and the music is very pop-heavy so it’s something I was very interested in.”

For all its rawness, Dear Evan Hansen is not likely to be dubbed the feel good musical of the year. It’s known for eliciting visceral responses from the audience and has a reputation for its "squirm in your chair, cringe-worthy moments."

The crux of the story is that Evan, a lonely and socially awkward high school senior, tells a lie to help a grieving family after their son commits suicide. Evan’s misrepresentation of the truth spirals out of control while earning Evan the adulation and acceptance he’s always longed for. Although his intentions are good, Evan’s deception opens a can of worms and he’s eventually overcome with guilt.

Evans actions help make him a social media sensation, and the multiple screens around the stage displaying social media feeds and images add a modern storytelling twist and a hypnotic visual.

“Social media almost plays a character in the production,” explains La Rochelle. “For Evan, things quickly spiral out of hand on social and I think a lot of young people can relate."

The show’s spotlight on social media has spurred online activity offstage. La Rochelle says Dear Evan Hansen has a huge fan following that has sprouted a number of social media communities in which people share their struggles and offer support.

“There are people who have found friendships online as fans of the show… I think the show is just lighting a fire under people — they feel like it’s a safe community to speak up in and it’s really, really special.”

La Rochelle, who delivers a gorgeous vocal on “Only You” (a duet with castmate Stephen Christopher Anthony, who plays Evan) describes the music in Dear Evan Hansen as "contemporary" and "fabulous."

“I’m just so proud to be part of something that is so moving, and I think all the songs really help tell the story. It’s really inspiring and exciting to be part of something that is generating conversations about mental health and helping erase that stigma ... and I’m so proud to be part of it,” she explains.

The song “You Will Be Found” has become an anthem for people who are struggling and serves to remind people that they are not alone. La Rochelle thinks that what makes Dear Evan Hansen so special: most people can identify with at least one of the characters, regardless of whether or not they are facing challenges themselves. She says at its core, the show is about relationships and it affects everyone in a very individual way.

“Overall, it has an uplifting message and everyone walks away feeling something different," she says. "I think that’s what’s great about it and that is what is sparking those important conversations.”

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Catch Dear Evan Hansenin San Antonio December 17-22.

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Movie Review

Jesse Eisenberg redefines the comedy duo trope in A Real Pain

Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain.

Comedy film duos have a long history, from Laurel and Hardy in the 1920s and ‘30s to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in movies like Baby Mama. But the majority of duos have either been friends or work partners; relationships that can be close, but not as close as family. The new film A Real Pain aims for the comedy that a great duo can bring, but hits deeper because the two lead characters are related to each other.

Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Jesse Eisenberg) are first cousins who decide to take a trip to Poland to visit the childhood home of their grandmother, who has recently passed. Their personalities could not be more different, with David buttoned-down and reserved and Benji extremely social, if a little wild. This contrast is on display from the moment they leave on their trip, affecting almost every aspect of their journey.

The two meet up with a diverse tour group in Poland, including guide James (Will Sharpe), recently divorced Marcia (Jennifer Grey), married couple Mark (Daniel Oreskes) and Diane (Liza Sadovy), and Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), an African man who has converted to Judaism. As the group visits various historical sites, David confronts contrasting feelings about Benji, who goes from charming to abrasive seemingly at the drop of a hat.

Written and directed by Eisenberg, the film is about both the family we have and the history of those who came before us. With Benji and David being Jewish and their grandmother having escaped from the Nazis in World War II, the themes hit harder than they might in other situations. Eisenberg takes care to honor his Jewish ancestors both in the way he has Benji and David talk about their grandmother and the places they visit.

But even though emotions are heightened due to the significance of the trip, the film is far from a dour affair. Benji keeps things interesting at almost all times with a series of impulsive decisions, many that are entertaining for both the tour group and the audience watching the film. He is one of those film characters that is great to watch on screen, but would likely be too much to handle if you were confronted with him in real life.

The relationship between Benji and David is a complicated one; the two obviously have love for each other, but they rarely see eye-to-eye on the best way to approach certain situations. This tension keeps the film grounded, and Eisenberg does a great job at showing the push-and-pull the two cousins have with each other. The little moments, especially when Benji and David go their separate ways, say a lot as the characters try to reconcile where each is at in their respective lives.

Eisenberg has always been an understated performer, so this role is almost perfect for him. Culkin, fresh off his Emmy-winning role in HBO’s Succession, is an ideal foil for Eisenberg, as he has a manic energy that he can control or not control at will. It’s also nice to see Grey in action again, as she brings just the right touch to her supporting role.

The drama in A Real Pain comes from the life experiences of its two main characters, which are on full display despite the story only doling out details in small doses. The film is subtle yet powerful, a testament to Eisenberg’s filmmaking ability and the actors never trying to make too much of their scenes.

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A Real Pain opens in theaters on November 15.

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