THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
Score by Frank Wildhorn, Lyrics by Jack Murphy, Book by Ivan Menchell, based on the Manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS until September 12, 2026
Death Note the Musical premiered at The Barbican Theatre to the press as well as a highly invested and devoted Manga audience. The delivery of the beloved, bestselling Manga series from print, film, video games and TV, had to be carefully crafted and authentic. The esteemed Grammy, Tony and Emmy nominated composer Frank Wildhorn accepted the calling and premiered this in Tokyo in 2015 to astounding reviews. He meticulously assembled a dream team including director Stephen Whitson, lyricist Jack Murphy, book writer Ivan Menchell and choreographer Fabian Eloise. Making the 12 volume comic into a musical was an enormous undertaking and liberties had to be taken including the elimination of some characters. I knew little about Manga and many people I spoke to were also not broad on the genre; prior knowledge is certainly not a requirement, but it is helpful.
What’s the story? Light Yagami (convincingly played by Xander Pang) is a discontented student watching the lack of justice among mankind. A Shinigami, or death spirit, named Ryuk (Telly Leung) enters the human world and gives Light a ‘death note’ which enables him to kill in 40 seconds as long as he knows the real name of the victim. Light hopes to eliminate evil, however his ego dominates and a killer, or Kira, named L becomes his nemesis and the games begin.
The timeless themes of justice, good versus evil, and love will overcome, are all refreshed in songs such as ‘Where is the Justice,’ sung by Light. Pang makes good use of his real-life University of Cambridge degree in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences to enter the mind of Light as he’s devoured by power, and he had the audience engaged immediately. His performance of the song, ‘Hurricane,’ in which he deftly manipulates FBI agents, was well received, with some audience members uncontrollably singing along.
Light’s opponent L, played by Colin Ryan, convincingly resembled the original manga character, with wide, intense eyes, wild hair, and hunched posture. Light’s love interest Misa Amane is played by a star to watch Stephanie Zaharis who, like Frank Wildhorn, comes from Hawaii. She brings K-pop energy, and also true staying power with a heartfelt delivery of the song, ‘We All Need a Hero.’
Set designer Jon Bausor’s use of projections of city scenes with rain and neon was very effective and his use of levels to separate the humans from the Gods worked well although the Barbican stage is lofty, with wings, and I was hoping for a less spartan set. The show will eventually move and the choice of theater will be important. The proof of the pudding wil be bums on seats.
Who will love this musical? It is a perfect family outing or a Gen X date night, and a great opportunity to dress in Manga cosplay.
