High School shootings have become such a regular occurrence since the film version of Heathers came out in 1988 that the producers of the musical version have probably given up worrying that performing in the wake of yet another tragedy could be in especially bad taste.

The story is always in bad taste of course – that’s the point. It’s what made the jet-black comedy such a cult (if not box office) hit, alongside star turns from Winona Ryder and Christian Slater as the teen misfits Veronica and JD, and a slew of quotable lines that are mostly present and correct in the musical remake. Whether a musical remake is appropriate for such source material is another matter of course, since the murder of school bullies, faked suicides, genuine suicide attempts, date rape, body shaming and homophobia hardly lend themselves to a cheery sing-song.

But that’s exactly what co-writers Lawrence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy have done, and with considerable success judging by sold out signs in the West End and packed houses on the current tour, including this night at the Belgrade, where the audience whooped and cheered every set-piece. That was probably as much for the West End-quality production values as the show itself, which although risky and risqué in equal measure, toned down some of the movie’s darkness as well as moral ambiguities to make for a colourful romp through teen-angst USA.

As a result we get a Veronica (the energetic Jenna Innes) who’s more innocent than conflicted, a JD (Jacob Fowler) more damaged than creepy, and a Heather Chandler (the scene-stealing Verity Thompson) more witty than evil. Oh, and murders that are more comic than criminal – not least because the victims are instantly brought back to life as ghosts. That device is one of the co-writers’ smartest moves, and alongside some terrific set-pieces and expanded characters (hippy teacher Ms Fleming briefly comperes proceedings) brings a crucial, if unlikely (and some might argue inappropriate) degree of frivolity to proceedings.

Most musicals are supposed to be frivolous of course, and this one is ultimately no exception. The 80s-style show tunes are lively but largely forgettable – a couple of the lead vocals sadly the opposite, but for all the wrong reasons – but the energetic cast, dynamic choreography and colourful costumes make for a rollicking good night out. Particularly if you had a brain tumour for breakfast.

3 stars

Reviewed by Steve Adams at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry on Tuesday 19 September. Heathers The Musical continues to show at the Belgrade Theatre until Sat 23 September.