Overheard on the way out of the Connor Palace Theatre: “This show would be great for psychologists.” The show? The long-awaited *Dear Evan Hansen*. multiple award winner, including a 2017 Tony for Best Musical. Directed by Michael Greif, with book by Steven Levenson, score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the musical explores alienation, family dynamics and chance. Greif, surely a master of unhappiness, offers a sad and serious look at life for several teens and two sets of parents. It should come as no surprise to learn that he also directed *Rent* and *Next to Normal*. The characters and the subtext (modern life can be pretty awful, but there’s hope for us all) echo a similar perspective. The first and most important teen is, of course, Evan Hansen (Ben Levi Ross), a lonely kid with good intentions. Ross projects, with cringe-inducing accuracy, the painful shyness and insecurity his character suffers. It’s easy to identify. It’s also easy to identify with his mother Heidi Hansen (Jessica Phillips). Phillips’ subtlety shows Heidi’s unintentional contributions to Evan’s problems by exhibiting mannerisms similar to her son’s. (Maybe it’s just me, but what teen has ever, ever in the history of teendom, ever answered truthfully the first time a parent asks “What’s bothering you?” Maybe some do.) To read the whole review, go to https://coolcleveland.com/2019/06/theater-review-dear-evan-hansen-playhouse-...