Review: TO MAURY, WITH LOVE, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Photo credit: Eliza Wilmot
This concert served as a celebration of the illustrious composer Maury Yeston’s 80th birthday. The glittery cast’s performances were sandwiched by cutaways to an interview with Maury Yeston himself, and it served as a moving account of one man’s mammoth career.
To Maury, With Love showed what West End shows often lack today musically. The London Musical Theatre Orchestra’s heft under the baton of Mark Aspinall was a delight to hear, and such orchestral might succeeded in carrying forward Yeston’s stories through song. The experience of hearing classics as they were designed to be heard created an effervescence befitting of Maury Yeston’s creations.
Ramin Karimloo reprised many of his career-defining roles in the concert, and it is clear how he and Maury’s writing are so well suited to one another. Rob Houchen also delivered heavenly high singing so befitting of Maury’s penchant for the tenor line. The other principal performers delivered some moments of note, but performances occasionally fell flat compared with Karimloo and Houchen’s prowess.
Thom Southerland’s direction of this concert was very clear, though the order of the evening’s favouring of a ballad-heavy second act resulted in a little too much of a good thing. Nevertheless, the enjoyment of the audience was palpable, and the power of excellent songwriting reinforced to all in attendance.
The evening commenced against the backdrop of a discussion on why such concerts are not the ‘hot ticket’ they once used to be. There are myriad reasons for this, but the costly ticket prices for a one-off show alongside (as to be expected) light tech issues and the 7.30pm Sunday curtain call are certainly contributors.
To Maury, With Love oozed affection and admiration for a great composer and had moments of utter brilliance. Here’s to hoping Danielle Tarento and Thom Southerland join forces yet again to stage one of Maury’s shows in full.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Jeff Mostyn