Dear Evan Hansen stage production - content advice

[Popcorn640]

Has anyone seen the stage show of Dear Evan Hansen and able to advice on content?

The advert notes content warnings for suicide, bullying and mental health, rated 12+.
I just wondered how explicit the themes are/the tone? Thinking about its suitability for a 13/14 year old who does have some low mood and friendship difficulties, and some early life trauma.
Is it affirmative and young people feel "seen" by it, or am I opening a whole can of worms for them?

My daughter came with me and found it very hard to watch; she was 20 or so and had lost a friend who took his own life.

The main plot is about a boy who commits suicide.
I wouldn't recommend it for a teen like you describe.

I went to see it with DD who was 18 at the time. We bought last minute tickets and didn’t know the theme of the show.

It was a great production but depressing.

We saw it just before it finished in the west end when my kids were 15 and 12 (my younger one has ADHD and social anxiety and panic attacks) and they were fine.

I, on the other hand, was not! I found it VERY hard going and had the interval not come when it did, I would have had to go to the loo to compose myself! The kids thought it was hilarious. They watch the film quite often but I can't watch with them!

The themes and tone are very explicit.

My teens loved it because they felt seen but not everyone takes it like that.

Agree it is the suicide storyline is the crux of story. Not visually explicit but its impact.

Theme is centered around suicide and the friends lies. I don't think it's a positive thing at all. My dd (16) loves it though.

I went to see it with DD who was 17 at the time. In no way is it a feel-good show or the sort of thing I'd take a teenager with the profile you describe to see it.

Thanks all - really helpful, not worth the risk I think at the moment!

There are a few positive and uplifting songs in it but the overall story is pretty depressing and negative.

Summary with SPOILERS:
Angry, depressed boy kills himself.
Shy, anxious boy lies and pretends he was friends with the dead boy to get close to his family.
Family of dead boy sing song about how they aren’t sad he’s dead because he was awful.
Uplifting middle bit about remembering dead boy by school kids, about asking for help and being seen.
Shy boy gets closer to family and ultimately they find out he was lying.
Song about how awful he is and how he’s been horrible to his own mum, friends and dead boy’s family.

It’s an interesting show in terms of staging and the music is good but definitely not a happy show. The staging uses social media images and messages to drive points home too so quite relevant to teens.