Review – Death Note: The Musical – The Barbican, London

There is something wonderfully bonkers about Death Note: The Musical. A supernatural notebook, a teenage genius deciding who should live and die, a mysterious detective, and a collection of death gods might not sound like the ingredients for a fun night at the theatre but, somehow, it works — and makes for a hugely enjoyable evening.

Based on the popular manga, the story follows Light Yagami, a clever but increasingly troubled student who discovers that he can kill people simply by writing their names in a mysterious notebook. What starts as an apparent attempt to create a better world quickly becomes something much darker. Xander Pang is terrific as Light. He brings plenty of charm to the character, which makes his gradual descent into obsession all the more interesting. There is a real sense of a young man getting carried away by the power he has been given, and Pang makes that journey easy to follow and enjoy.

Then there is Colin Ryan as L, the world’s greatest detective, and the two make a brilliant pairing. L is an unusual character — eccentric, clever and wonderfully unpredictable — and Ryan clearly has fun with him. Whenever the pair come together, there is a lovely sense of playful tension as they try to outwit each other.

The rest of the cast work incredibly hard to add to the fun. Stephanie Zaharis brings plenty of personality to pop sensation Misa Amane, giving the character a warmth and energy that lifts the show whenever she appears. Telly Leung is great fun as Ryuk, the mischievous Shinigami who finds himself fascinated by the chaos unfolding around him.

Grace Mouat brings a more thoughtful quality to Rem, Chloe Saracco brings a lovely sense of warmth and charm to Gelus, adding a memorable touch of humanity to the supernatural world of Death Note, while Paolo Montalban gives Light’s father, Soichiro, genuine warmth. Their performances help keep the story grounded, particularly as the plot becomes increasingly wild.

And wild is certainly the word for some of this musical. It moves between comedy, drama, romance and supernatural fantasy with impressive confidence. One minute you’re caught up in a serious confrontation, and the next you’re watching a giant death god having an unexpectedly entertaining time watching humanity fall apart. Frank Wildhorn‘s music, tandemed with Jack Murphy‘s lyrics, suits the material beautifully. There are big, dramatic songs alongside quieter character moments, and the score gives the performers plenty of opportunities to show what they can do. The musical numbers also help make the characters’ thoughts and feelings much more immediate.

The production itself is suitably stylish. The Barbican stage is transformed into a dark, slightly otherworldly playground, with the superb stage design, by Jon Bausor, helping to create the show’s distinctive atmosphere. It feels like a production that is having fun with its source material rather than trying too hard to make it respectable. And that’s perhaps the biggest pleasure of the evening. Death Note: The Musical knows that the story is strange. It knows that putting a supernatural notebook into a musical might sound slightly ridiculous. Rather than fighting that, it embraces it.

You don’t need to know the original manga to enjoy the show, either. The story is easy enough to follow, while fans will have the added pleasure of seeing familiar characters and moments brought to life. There is plenty of darkness here, but there is also a generous amount of humour, energy and theatrical fun. The cast clearly throw themselves into the material, and that enthusiasm is infectious.

If you’re looking for something a little different at the theatre, Death Note: The Musical is a very easy recommendation. It’s powerful, without taking itself too seriously, packed with memorable characters and performed with plenty of energy. Dark, dazzling and deliciously dramatic, Death Note: The Musical is a thrilling production that brings its characters to life with heart, energy and plenty of theatrical magic.

*****  Five Stars