REVIEW: TO MAURY, WITH LOVE @ THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE

🎭 To Maury, WIth Love

📍 Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JF

🗓 Sunday 22nd February 2026

⭐️ 4 Stars

A MASTERCLASS IN MELODY

Walking into the glorious Theatre Royal Drury Lane, I'll be honest - I was a Maury Yeston novice. Aside from knowing he was the man behind the music of Titanic, I'd never really dived into his world. But after a night of celebrating his 80th birthday, I'm officially a convert.

Maury isn't just a composer; he's a storyteller of the highest order, and this one-night-only gala was a lush, sweeping introduction to a catalogue of songs that are as grand as the venue itself.

The evening was a massive celebration for a good cause, produced in aid of Bowel Cancer UK. However it was a bit disheartening to see quite a few empty seats in such a legendary venue. You have to wonder why. Was it the over-saturation of one-night-only concerts in the West End lately? Was the pricing a bit too steep for a Sunday night? Or perhaps it's simply that Maury, despite his undeniable genius, doesn't have the same "household name" recognition here as Sondheim or Lloyd Webber. Whatever the reason, those who stayed home missed a treat.

The talent on stage was, frankly ridiculous. Incredible stars from the stage including Ramin Karimloo, Madalena Alberto, Graham Bickley, and Kelly Mathieson were at their very best as they displayed stunning vocals throughout.

Sydnie Christmas was a revelation. We all know she can sing, but her ability to act through song is what really hit home. She delivered glorious, crystal-clear vocals that felt deeply connected to the heart of the lyrics.

However, my performance of the night - the one that had me gripped - was Rob Houchen. Closing Act 1 with "Love Can't Happen" from Grand Hotel, he was nothing short of spectacular. It was a masterclass in vocal power and emotional stakes.

Photo credit: Eliza Wilmot

Speaking of Grand Hotel, those numbers, along with the selections from Titanic, were my absolute favourites. There's a sweeping, cinematic quality to those scores that felt massive in the room. This was largely thanks to the London Musical Theatre Orchestra. The depth of sound they produced was staggering. It felt like a warm wave of music washing over the stalls. Backed by the Royal Academy of Music MT Choir, the scale of the evening was truly impressive.

It wasn't quite a perfect five-star night though. Throughout the show we were treated to videos of Maury sharing anecdotes. While it was lovely to see the man himself, the videos felt like a bit of a disconnect from the live energy on stage. There were also some noticeable syncing issues where the audio and video just didn't want to play nice.

My only other minor gripe was the lack of context from the stage. We didn't hear from the performers at all, which was a real shame. It would have been nice to hear from them, and discover any personal connections they had to Maury and his work. Also, while the surprise ensemble at the end were talented, I was left wondering who they actually were!

Minor technical gremlins aside, this was undeniably a beautiful, soul-stirring tribute to a legend. To Maury, with love? Absolutely.

If you couldn't make it you can still support the cause. Please consider making a donation via the Bowel Cancer UK Donation Page to support their vital research and support services.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of To Maury, With Love was gifted by Kevin Wilson Public Relations who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

STARRING:

Ramin Karimloo; Sydnie Christmas; Madalena Alberto; Graham Bickley; Rob Houchen; Kelly Mathhieson

London Musical Theatre Orchestra

Royal Academy of Music MT Choir

Sail On Singers

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours, including interval

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