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LIFESTYLE | TIMES-STANDARD.COM SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2021

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ loses some power moving to screen

By Mark Meszoros
mmeszoros@news-herald.com
@MarkMeszoros on Twitter
“Dear Evan Hansen”
is an emotionally power-
ful and highly entertain-
ing stage musical, one tell-
ing a contemporary story
of teen loneliness and sui-
cide that folds in how so-
cial media can affect peo-
ple both positively and
negatively.
In 2017, it won six Tony
Awards, including those
for best musical and Best
Actor in a Leading Role in
a Musical — for Ben Platt.
Platt is front and center
in the titular role again in
the film adaptation hitting
theaters this week.
While he remains ex-
cellent as the incredibly
socially anxious Evan —
and while the show’s out-
standing songs by Benj
Pasek and Justin Paul are
as lovely and dynamic as
ever — something is lost
in the move from stage to
screen.
Written by the author
of the musical stage play’s
book, Steve Levenson, the
new take on “Dear Evan
Hansen” suffers from un-
even direction by Ste-
phen Chbosky (“The Perks
of Being a Wallflower,”
“Wonder”).
Makers of movie musi-
cals have the unenviable
task of figuring out how to
make it feel natural when
their characters break
into song, and, much to
their credit, some do it
quite well.
Chbosky struggles
greatly.
On stage, when a char-
acter — most often Evan
— breaks into song, the
dramatic lighting and of-
ten bare-bones set help to
create a heightened en-
vironment that serves to
sell the musical number.
In this film, on the other
hand, Evan will start sing-
ing during an emotion-
ally delicate moment — in
Evan Hansen (Ben Platt) and Zoe Murphy (Kaitlyn Dever) grow close in “Dear Evan Hansen.”
an ordinary bedroom or
in an ordinarily lit dining
room — and it simply can
feel a little strange.
The musical num-
bers work best cinemati-
cally when the setting is
evolving around Evan or
when Chbosky is jumping
from character to charac-
ter when more than one
is singing, such as with
the quietly gorgeous “Re-
quiem.” Those approaches
pull you out of a strict re-
ality and allow you to be-
come immersed in the
song.
For example, Chbosky
gets it right with the mov-
ie’s opening number, the
unforgettable song “Wav-
ing Through a Window,”
with its stays-with-you-
for-days melodic hook. It
begins with Evan alone
in his room, with his pre-
scription medication, and
concludes with him at
high school, surrounded
by other students and
with anxiety coursing
through him.
The therapist Evan has
been seeing — at the be-
hest of his loving, hard-
working single mother,
Heidi (Julianne Moore) —
has given the assignment
of writing optimistic let-
ters to himself. The letters
begin “Dear Evan Han-
sen,” but they do not all
turn out to be so encour-
aging.
Evan writes one at
school and includes a ref-
erence to Zoe (Kaitlyn De-
ver), a girl who, like most
there, has paid him lit-
tle attention. Unfortu-
nately, Zoe’s brother, Con-
nor (Tolton Ryan, “Un-
cle Frank”), is in the same
room and finds the note at
the printer. And although
the two only moments be-
fore had engaged in pleas-
ant conversation — Con-
nor even had signed the
cast on Evan’s broken arm
— Connor concludes Evan
must have written it to
mock him and furiously
storms out of the room
with it.
Evan fears what Con-
nor might do with the let-
ter and scours the web to
see if he may have posted
it somewhere. However,
Evan soon learns that
Connor has since taken
his own life. And imme-
diately after being de-
livered this awful news
by a school administra-
tor, he’s brought in an of-
fice to meet with Connor’s
distraught mother, Cyn-
thia (Amy Adams), and his
stepfather, Larry (Danny
Pino).
Believing the let-
ter must have been from
Connor to Evan, Cynthia
hopes Evan can provide
her with any new window
into the life of her late
son. She had no idea, for
instance, that Connor had
a close friend. Evan feebly
tries to tell her he didn’t
actually know Connor,
but the fact that ‘CON-
NOR” is Sharpied on his
cast in giant letters makes
that a hard sell. Evan de-
cides to tell Cynthia what
she wants to hear, and the
lie lands him an invited to
dinner with the family.
In the family dining
room, Zoe, who didn’t
have a healthy relation-
ship with her brother,
finds the revelation of this
mystery friend hard to ac-
grief as Cynthia; this is a
woman desperate to un-
derstand the son she’s
lost. Dever (“Booksmart,”
“Unbelievable”) conveys
all the confusing feelings
Zoe experiences through-
out the story, and it’s all
impactful. Moore (“The
Glorias,” “Lisey’s Story”) is
so good in limited screen-
time that you wonder if
the role of Heidi shouldn’t
have been beefed up a
bit. And Amandla Sten-
berg (“The Hate U Give,”
“The Eddy”) makes an im-
pression as Alana, a stu-
dent who works to turn
Connor’s death into a so-
cial crusade and who pos-
sesses some characteris-
tics that differ from the
overly ambitious stage ver-
sion.
COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES Plus, their voices are
lovely whenever they get
to sing.
cept and casts a suspi- Alana is given one of
cious eye on Evan. two songs written by
Nonetheless, Evan be- Pasek and Paul (“La La
gins to enjoy the attention Land,” “The Greatest
from the family — and val- Showman”) for the film,
ues the chance to be close “The Anonymous Ones.”
to Zoe — and he decides It and Connor’s “A Lit-
to keep building upon tle Closer” aren’t quite
his fabrication instead of as strong as the original
coming clean. batch. And, to that end,
Over the course of fans of the stage work
“Dear Evan Hansen,” what may be saddened to learn
may have begun as a well- four songs — including
intentioned lie will lead the effective show-opening
to greater complications. “Anybody Have a Map?” —
And while Evan is enjoy- do not appear in the film.
ing his life like never be- If you can get past the
fore, he also is increas- film’s few stumbles, there’s
ingly weighed down by still so much that works
guilt. in this screen version.
It is hardly surprising Just as it is on stage, mid-
Platt (“Pitch Perfect,” “Pol- story number “You Will
itician) again is terrific as Be Found” — surround-
Evan, even if, well into his ing a moment when Evan
20s, he looks a little old goes viral — is stunningly
for the role. Thanks to his moving.
performance, you can’t es- At that moment, you’ll
cape the idea that it gen- be glad you got to know
erally is exhausting to be “Evan Hansen.”
Evan. “Dear Evan Hansen” is
A quartet of ladies rated PG-13 for thematic
stands out in the film, as material involving sui-
well. Largely through her cide, brief strong language
facial expressions, Adams and some suggestive refer-
(“Enchanted,” “Hillbilly ences. Runtime: 2 hours,
Elegy”) conveys so much 17 minutes.

THEN AND NOW SENSE AND SENSITIVITY

Online lecture looks at Bridgeville history Boss gives employee

The Times-Standard

The Humboldt County

Historical Society will offer
its continuing lecture series
on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 2:30
p.m. via Zoom.
The lecture, “Bridgeville
Then and Now,” will be
given by longtime local
resident Jessie Wheeler,
ASK THE DOCTORS
too much work
who will explore the his-
tory of Bridgeville through
the lives of her family mem-
bers, dating back to the
early 1900s. Wheeler, who
was born during World War
II and raised in Bridgeville,
will talk about daily life in
this small, but geograph-
ically significant, town in
Humboldt County.
The lecture will be hosted
by the Humboldt County
Library and can be viewed
from the safety and com-
fort of home on a personal
computer, laptop, tablet or
smartphone. The deadline
to sign up for access to the
lecture is 5 p.m. Friday. Af-
ter registering, participants
will receive the meeting ID
and password.
Those interested in this
lecture and others, can find
information on the library
website, www.humlib.org,
by clicking on the calen-
dar of events. Assistance
in signing up for the talk
is available by calling the
Humboldt County Library
at 707-269-1915.
By Harriette Cole
Dear Harriette: My
boss has no respect for
my time. I am consid-
ered a junior executive at
my company, and I have
a long list of tasks that I
am supposed to complete
daily. However, when-
new tasks. If you do not
believe you can complete
everything in a timely
manner, point that out
and ask if something can
be moved to the next day
or week. Make a note of
whatever your boss says
so that it is documented.
Start giving daily written
updates as to what has

Infection treatment requires two-pronged approach

ever my boss needs some- or has not been accom-
thing, she expects me to plished. Holding yourself
drop everything and at- accountable and shar-
tend to the issue of the ing that accountability
By Dr. Eve Glazier residual moisture. That, moment. It is impossi- with your boss will dem-
It’s important to understand that along with the barrier ble for me to get all my onstrate your productiv-
medications are only a start. Just cream, will eliminate the work done when she is ity and help you feel less
Dear Doctor: I’m a environment that fungi constantly interrupting overwhelmed and more
74-year-old male with a
as important is eliminating the crave. You’ll also want to me. What’s worse is that in control.
stubborn case of jock itch. environment that allows fungi to start wearing loose-fitting at the end of the week Dear Harriette: I’m a
I’ve tried every over-the- flourish. That means a thorough clothing, including un- or month, depending senior in high school this
counter ointment, pow- and sustained campaign to keep derwear, to allow maxi- upon when she checks on year, and my sister has
der and soap, with no suc- mum air flow. And be vig- things, she will berate me just left for college. I’ve
cess. A prescription cream the affected areas very clean and ilant about washing your for not completing some- already noticed how my
keeps it from getting very dry. And by sustained, we hands, which can transfer thing that was on my list. parents are becoming at-
worse, but it doesn’t stop mean remaining vigilant from the fungi. Also, be aware Never mind that I didn’t tached to me and want-
the problem. Do you have that it can take a month, even have a second to do ing to spend more time
any other recommenda- now on. Meds can ease a fungal or even longer, to vanquish that thing because I was together. They often in-
tions on how to treat this? infection in the short term, but you a case of jock itch. too busy putting out a terrupt me while I’m
Dear Reader: Jock itch now know you’re susceptible to If your condition per- thousand fires that she working and offer to take
is a topical infection that sists despite meds and threw at me. How can I me out to lunch all the
can be caused by kera-
this type of condition. proper hygiene, you may become successful in this time. I understand that
tin-loving fungi known as not actually have jock itch. position if it seems like they are probably feeling
dermatophytes, and by a number of prescription maining vigilant from now Other conditions, such as my boss is setting me lonely with my sister out
yeast known as candida. medications. Most people on. Meds can ease a fun- lichens planus, can pres- up for failure? — Over- of the house, but I don’t
Also known as tinea cru- do have success with over- gal infection in the short ent with similar symp- whelmed think it should be up to
ris, jock itch is a red, scaly the-counter treatments. term, but you now know toms. We recommend that Dear Overwhelmed: me to fill that void. It’s
and very itchy rash that More persistent cases of you’re susceptible to this you seek out a board-certi- Rather than constantly re- just too hard. How should
appears in areas of the jock itch can call for a pre- type of condition. That fied dermatologist to make acting to the barrage of I create a healthy dis-
body that stay warm and scription for topical med- means keeping the af- sure you’ve received an ac- last-minute requests, it is tance? — Healthy Space
moist. It gets its name be- ications, including oxi- fected areas clean and dry curate diagnosis. time for you to be proac- Needed
cause it’s common in ath- conazole or econazole, or will become part of your tive. Step back and do an Dear Healthy Space
letes, and also from its lo- an oral medication, such daily routine. If not, recur- Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, is evaluation of the work you Needed: The next few
cation in the area of the as fluconazole or itracon- rences of the condition are an internist and associate have been completing and weeks may feel a bit
groin and inner thighs. azole. If you haven’t had likely. professor of medicine at that which you are tasked bumpy as your family ad-
It’s more common in men success with topicals, ask We recommend that our UCLA Health. Elizabeth to do. Review your hours justs to the new circum-
than in women, and it can your health care provider patients who are dealing Ko, M.D., is an internist and how you have been stances. It can be diffi-
also arise in people who if an oral treatment might with jock itch also use a and assistant professor of using your time. Look to cult for parents when
perspire freely, individuals be the next step. barrier method, like Butt medicine at UCLA Health. see how you might be bet- their children leave to go
who are overweight and It’s important to under- Paste or Desitin, which are Send your questions to ter able to complete the to college or move out to
people with a weakened stand that medications are zinc oxide-based creams. askthedoctors@mednet. regular duties while also begin their adult lives.
immune system. only a start. Just as im- Something else that has ucla.edu, or write: Ask making space for last- On one hand, your par-
The battle against jock portant is eliminating the proved effective, partic- the Doctors, c/o UCLA minute requests. Look to ents are mourning the
itch takes place on two environment that allows ularly in humid climates Health Sciences Media see if you can create flex- loss of your sister’s pres-
fronts. One is the use of fungi to flourish. That where getting completely Relations, 10880 Wilshire ibility in your schedule to ence. On the other, as you
antifungal medications. means a thorough and sus- dry is a challenge, is using Blvd., Suite 1450, Los get them all done. Creat- suspect, they are clinging
This includes the drug tained campaign to keep a blow dryer. Put it on the Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing ing order may help you ever more tightly to you.
store creams, lotions, the affected areas very lowest heat setting so you to the volume of mail, find time to be organized If possible, ease them out
soaps and powders that clean and very dry. And don’t risk burning yourself personal replies cannot be and fluid at once. of this dependency gen-
you have tried, and a small by sustained, we mean re- and use it to remove all provided. Learn to speak up. tly. Find natural ways to
When your boss gives make space for yourself
you tasks to complete, without outright rejecting
ask which ones should be their overtures. Remind
NEVER GIVE UP VISIT
SAFERCAR.GOV/
the priorities. You can in-
clude the items already
them that you have home-
work to complete. Create
UNTIL THEY BUCKLE UP. KIDSBUCKLEUP on the list along with the COLE » PAGE 4