Regine reigns

REGINE Velasquez

The current glut of local drama series on the tube this season has made us yearn for more variety in our viewing fare, so we feel upbeat about the entry last March 28, of a comedic variant—GMA 7’s “Poor Señorita,” with “reigning star” Regine Velasquez playing the feisty title role.

We made it a point to catch the new series’ premiere telecast, and have these hot-to-trot first impressions to share:

Regine is perfectly cast as the series’ protagonist-antagonist, a nasty billionaire named Rita Villon, who loves money and power above all else—and is happiest when she’s firing people!

The first telecast briskly showed Rita’s heartless behavior has led to her imminent comeuppance, courtesy of a “fatal” illness that will strike her deader than a doomed dodo bird in 90 days—or less!

Obviously, the “death sentence” is intended to belatedly and retroactively knock some sense  into her head and heart, and it looks like her “reeducation” will be effected by a group of street kids.

The series’ mix of characters is appealingly eclectic, so hopes are high that the situations, relationships and subplots it will feature in the next few months will be divertingly diverse.

This helps assure a good outcome for the show—but, some less heartening factors have presented themselves that should be addressed and mitigated before they turn out into major deal-breakers.

The first “symptom” of less than scintillating success is the series’ lack of detailing of the workplace. In other words, the story is supposed to be about a top business mogul, but what she and her employees actually do is mystifyingly and disappointingly “generic” and unclear.

Yes, we’re informed that Rita runs a big “scents” empire, but many of the office scenes simply show people rushing hither and thither in a nervous frenzy—and not much else. More pertinent work-related activity is decidedly in order, for more clarifying and empathy-boosting  context.

Perhaps because they aren’t given enough pertinent things to do, the series’ cast members are generally too loud and livid to be truly and warmly diverting.

The fact that this is supposed to be a comedy doesn’t require most everyone to carry on like headless chickens to add to the show’s “fun” factor!

Relax, everyone, and focus on the specific characters you’re supposed to be playing—if you’ve thought about them at all.

Happily for her, Regine doesn’t get herself caught in the generally loud and livid rut, opting to set her own pace, vocal placement and tempo. She does push the arch, snooty and snitty pout and pose a bit too much, however, so a little more variety in thespic “attack” would be welcome.

All told, however,  she’s the series’ best asset—but we hope that other cast members similarly step up to the thespic plate soonest, to share the weight of keeping the show eventful and entertaining.