in the brief instances when Dear Evan Hansen does work, it’s largely thanks to its talented female ensemble. Kaitlyn Dever is so effortlessly naturalistic as a grief-stricken teen that she almost makes the case that this should’ve been a gender-flipped adaptation starring her.

The courtiers tramping across the green eye the: [the Duke of] Suffolk with his big beard, his flashing eye, his big chest, and Master Secretary [Thomas Cromwell] subfusc, low-slung, square.

I own thy speechless, placeless power; but to the last gasp of my earthquake life will dispute its unconditional, unintegral mastery in me.

You had better finish that homework on time, if you want to get a good grade.