Festival Theatre, Edinburgh – until 12 October 2019
Reviewed by Hannah Plumb
5*****
This October the Tony Award-nominated worldwide success On Your Feet comes to Edinburgh. On Your Feet is the story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan and their journey triumphing over adversity to become the worldwide music sensation they are known as today.
On Your Feet a colourful explosion of music and dance and sparkling Cuban culture. The show itself is big and glossy while still holding onto the heritage and history of the Estefan’s story. Philippa Stefani is magnetic in her role as Gloria Estefan. She is energetic and the perfect blend of the warm and caring young woman Gloria was offstage and the captivating entertainer she was onstage. The chemistry between Stefani and George Ioannides who played Emilio was not only real but was tender and romantic and reiterated that at its core this show is a love story.
Ioannides played the part of Emilio brilliant. Charismatic and charming but also strong and powerful who we see fights for the music he loves to be delivered to the people who want to hear it despite cultural prejudice. In the second act, however, Emilio was played by Sharif Afifi who continued the role with gravitas. Congratulations to him as it is a difficult job to continue a performance with a crowd that has already warmed up to another actor. A big well done to the entire cast.
The entire cast of On Your Feet from the Estefan’s to the ensemble are all brilliant performers who’re fantastic vocals and eclectic choreography make this show wonderful to watch. Everything comes together to make On Your Feet a really enjoyable experience.