I went with a group of six the other night to see this show with great expectations (two of my friends are Cuban American).
Well let me get this out of the way first…..this is first rate cruise ship entertainment or for Las Vegas.
We have truly lowered the bar to accept something like this for Broadway. Its not nearly as good as “Beautiful” with an amazing score and solid book or “Jersey Boys”.
The book is really weak and has viturally no impact until late in the second act. The dancing is what you would expect and not terribly inventive from Mr. Trujillos previous work. The direction is perfunctory, not bad, just perfunctory.
I grew up with Gloria Estefan’s music as well as my friends that I was with, and to that you can go no wrong as it was a delight to hear this music again, song after song.
The main reason to see this show is an actress/singer named Ana Villafane…..I can go so far to say that its really the only reason to see this show. She looks like Ms. Estefan, moves well, is a wonderful actress with great stage presence and even sings like Ms. Estefan (and it’s not a performance of imitation).
I think we will see big things from her in the future, a talent like this will not go overlooked.
The other actress I will give kudos to is Alma Cuervo as her grandmother. A delight to watch, engaging, funny at one moment, and pulls at your heart at other moments.
The little boy in the show is cute but way overused……It’s the oldest trick in the book to throw a child onstage and make him sing and dance, (and he’s very good), but way overexposed.
This musical is not really a “jukebox musical” in my opinion as it has a story line (poorly executed) but it exists nonetheless.
Now I have to mention Ms. Villafane’s husband Emilio Estefan Josh Segarra. One of the biggest miscast roles I’ve seen in awhile. This is not to say Mr. Seggara is not talented, but so wrong for this role.
He looks very uncomfortable on stage especially in any solo moments, I didn’t buy the chemistry between Gloria and Emiliio. Ms. Villafane walks away with every scene without even trying.
And Mr. Seaggara (who doesn’t need to be a body builder) is dressed is some costumes that do nothing to enhance his body, but just the opposite.
The ensemble is fine but again they are performing Latin dance that we have all seen time and time again, nothing inventive.
Spoiler Alert- This musical manipulates the audience which is really annoying forcing you to participate in a standing ovation at the curtain call or you won’t see the action onstage.
All in all I think it will get mixed reviews, but continue to run and do well at the box office even though it is mediocre at best and doesn’t belong on a Broadway stage. It’s just not good enough. I cringed (as well as my friends) at some of what was presented on the stage.
I wish them well, and any new shows that opens, but this is a classic case of “What were they thinking?”.
Everyone in my group from age late 40’s to early 60’s agreed and my comments represent a combination of all of our comments.
It’s too bad, it could have been a helluva lot better!
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