Theatre Royal Nottingham – until Saturday 21 September 2019
Reviewed by Louise Ford
4****
Everybody Conga, the Doctor will see you now!
The story of Gloria (Philippa Stefani )and Emilio (George Ioannides) Estefan’s rise to fame has a slow start but at the end has the audience up on their feet dancing in the aisles, the rhythm is gonna get you in the end. Everyone on your feet!
The stage set (designed by David Rockwell ) is quite minimal with simple shutter sets moving around to create the various rooms and scenes. The lighting,and fireworks at one point, providing the light and shade for the dance routines and the songs. The dance routines (choreographed by Sergio Trujillo) are energetic and enthusiastic with lots of costume changes for both the ensemble and for Gloria.
The show starts with the on stage band blasting out the rhythms with energy and Cuban rhythms . It moves through the early years of a shy Gloritta, the daughter of Cuban immigrants, who writes songs but does not crave to be centre stage. Her meeting with the handsome, short wearing, Emilio her debut with his band and the success with the Miami Sound Machine. Through to her terrible accident and her grit and determination to not only walk but also to perform at the American Music Awards.
The story (Directed by Jerry Mitchell) is at heart a love story; the love of a people for the country they have left behind, the love of music and rhythm, the love of a family for each other and, of course, the love story of Gloria and Emilio.
Twined with a classical ‘rags to riches’ story of Gloria and Emilio’s rise to fame and challenging on the way the prejudices of their record executives who want them to continue singing in Spanish and not move away from their Latin fan base.
Whilst Gloria is, undoubtedly, the energetic star of the show the outstanding performances were those of Consuel (Karen Mann), Gloria’s strong and sassy grandmother and Gloria Fajardo (Madalena Alberto) Gloria’s estranged mother whose own singing career was poignantly thwarted at an early age.
The energy of the dancers is infectious the Cuban rhythms mixing with the disco beat of Gloria’s Miami Sound Machine. It all makes for a splendid finale, are you ready to party?