Bea’s back–in top form

THE ACTRESS wears different faces.

Weeks before ABS-CBN’s newest soap, “Sana Bukas Pa ang Kahapon,” started telecasting, viewers were eager to catch the show, for the simple reason that it top-bills the admired and acclaimed Bea Alonzo, who’s been absent from the big and small screens for much too long.

Worth the wait

Well, judging from the teleserye’s first telecast on June 16, the new show has been worth the long wait, because Bea is in top form in it.

Our first view of her is as the rather plain-looking wallflower, Rose, a top executive in her family’s chocolate business. She’s in her mid-20s but has never had a boyfriend.

How could the lovely Bea pass muster as this sad and lonely loser in love? “Blame” it on her versatility as an actress, aided by astute makeup, prosthetics and “uglifying” dentures that make her look like the plainest of Janes.

Her character’s low self-esteem makes her an easy target for fake and faithless lotharios, including the “sensitive” young chocolatier portrayed by Paulo Avelino—who, it sadly turns out, is actually “attached” to and working for the series’ resident villainess, played by Maricar Reyes.

If so much “anticipated” misery and heartbreak can be introduced and implied in the show’s initial telecast, can you imagine how totally Bea’s character will be bruised, mangled and

MARICAR Reyes

manhandled in the series’ first month of steamy storytelling?

Welcome take

We liked the series’ maiden telecast not just due to Bea’s presence, but also for the judicious way that it was made to unreel. In general, new teleseryes are launched with a lot of big, loud and attention-calling sequences, the better to stun viewers into rapt viewership! “Sana” opts for a smaller, more detailed and less florid opener—and this “different” take is decidedly most welcome.

The show is confident about its lead player’s ability to sustain viewers’ attention with just her talent, so one intimate scene follows another in gratifying progression.

Bea’s Plain Jane character captivates viewers with her vulnerability and wistful pathos from the very start.

Fascinating

It’s fascinating to see the actress create her character by way of a slow but steady accretion of telling details—clearly, an experienced and insightful lead star is in charge! And yet, she makes all that “craft” come off naturally, never allowing the technical seams to show.

Good news

For his part, Paulo is also given some potentially telling hero-antihero “moments” to take advantage of—and yet, his portrayal thus far is too tentative to measure up to the high standard that his leading lady is setting.

PAULO Avelino’s portrayal is too tentative.

Well, it’s still early days, so he should be given more time to really get his thespic act together.

The good news is that the series’ third star, Maricar, doesn’t need more time to rev up her own portrayal to Bea’s level. As the series’ lovely but “deadly” antagonist, she registers strongly without having to act up a turgid, florid storm!

We look forward to “enjoying” Bea and Maricar’s scenes together—and hope that Paulo will be able to catch up with them—ASAP!