Reviewed by Debbie Lowndes
WOW! WOW! WOW! What an amazing evening we had watching On Your Feet! – the story of Emilo & Gloria Estefan.
My niece, age 14, and I both went to watch On Your Feet the musical and we had a great time. We were captivated!
Let’s start by mentioning some of the amazing cast.
Philippa Stefan playing ‘Gloria’ has started in Doctors and Mamma Mia 2 – Here We Go Again. She plays a great Gloria Estefan who is full of character and energy. I have to say she has an amazing figure and totally awesome leg calves, she is the most amazing dancer, fully evident by her leg structure. Her singing is fantastic and note perfect. As was all of the casts.
George Loannides played Emilio Estefan. He has had many theatre credits such as Officer and a Gentlemen, Annie, Greece and Mamma Mia! It was a pleasure to watch this guy on stage acting out the story, he was easy in the eye and you could not help falling in love with him. The chemistry between Gloria and him was electrifying.
Gloria’s mother – Gloria Fajordo was played by Madalena Alberto. She has had TV appearances in Holby City and numerous theatre credits. She played the role of Gloria’s mother with style and portrayed the mother’s stubbornness and the fear she had for her daughter. She performed vocal solos with excellent dancing.
Hollie Casser played the role of Consuelo the ever-loving grandmother of Gloria. She was a great actor and she gave the performance her all. Throughout it was clear she wanted Gloria to succeed within the areas where her daughter could not venture.
Elia Lo Tauro played the role of Jose Farardo the father of Gloria. Seen on TV in Skyfall and Doctors. Theatre credits for The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar to name a couple. He acted is part out in style, the early days the proud father who was full of encouragement and missing his daughter as she performed. Following into the later days being wheelchair bound and unwell. He was so so proud of Gloria.
Gloria and Emilio with 26 Grammys and 115 million records under their belts took their lives on the stage. The performance displays their passion for creating a new form of music combining Latino and dance music. Director Jerry Mitchell and book writer Alexander Dinelaris did a hell of a job putting this masterpiece together and telling the story from the Castro’s Cuba to settling in Miami and achieving international stardom.
The story starts (first half) with schoolgirl Gloria (who was juggling singing alongside caring for her father), following on to her encounter with Emilio, the fall out with her mother, the move from Cuba to Miami, the battles with the American record label (to break away from the Latin music market and the language crossover). The songs in the first half were:
- Overtire
- Cuando Sali De Cuba (when I leave Cuba)
- Tradicion
- Anything for you
- 1-2-3
- I see your smile
- Mi Tierra
- Con Los Anos Que Me Quedan
- Here We Are
- Dr. Beat
- When someone comes into your life
- Conga
The second half included the Estefan’s tour bus crash and Gloria facing the prospect of being paralysed. The show displays a full range of emotions from start to finish. You are Gloria fighting to walk again and she displays her fear and yet determination to make her appearance at the awards following her crash. This was a true come back moment and very touching and heart pulling.
- Songs in the second half:
- Entr’acte Medley
- World Tour Medley
- Famous
- If I Never Got To Tell You
- Wrapped
- Don’t Wanna Lose You
- Reach
- Coming Out Of The Dark
- The Finale
The performance is exciting, energetic, emotional, eventful, lively and fun throughout. You will be singing, laughing, crying, foot tapping and dancing throughout,
Don’t miss this, it is the show to watch.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £19.50 to £55 (booking fees may apply).
On Your Feet! is at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham from 16-21 September 2019, for more information or to book tickets visit www.trch.co.uk or call the box office on 0115 989 5555.
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Square, Nottingham, NG1 5ND
