SANTOS. Dynamic portrayals in consecutive lead roles.
Thus far this show biz season, who are the standout performers who have been doing (much) better than the mediocre competition, and have proven to their grateful producers that they deserve to be given even bigger and better assignments the next time around?
First, there’s Alwyn Uytingco, whose empathetic lead portrayal in the concluding comedy-drama series, “Beki Boxer,” has enabled the show to not overstay its welcome, despite having already been running for months and months.
Alwyn is great in the “closeted gay” role he plays, but shouldn’t be limited to gender-bending projects. Right after the series ends, his producers should showcase him in a different kind of thespic challenge, the better to underscore and highlight his versatility, despite his youth.
It isn’t easy for a relative newcomer like him to “carry” a daily show like “Beki Boxer,” so due attention must be paid.
In the singing field, Morissette Amon is even younger than Alwyn, but she’s also made us sit up and similarly pay attention to her swiftly improving performing skills.
She may not have enjoyed the success she deserved on “The Voice,” but she recently made viewers aware of her standout promise when she performed an impressively electric solo song number in the tribute show that was mounted for Ryan Cayabyab at the CCP some months back.
What’s up next for the marvelous Ms Amon? She should do an intimate solo musical show, or get involved in musical theater, where her strong combination of good looks and great voice should serve her particularly well.
Filipino musicals
Speaking of musical theater, the brightest new standout in original Filipino musicals has been Aicelle Santos, who has delighted, impressed and moved viewers with her felt and dynamic portrayals in challenging lead roles, despite her relative inexperience in musical theater.
Aicelle made her sensational debut in Spotlight’s acclaimed production of “Katy!,” where she held her own in the daunting company of the stellar likes of Isay Alvarez, Tirso Cruz III and Dulce, prompting some reviewers to hail her as “the best musical-theater discovery in years!”
Then, right after her big success in “Katy!,” Aicelle was tapped to play the coveted female lead role in Peta’s “Rak of Aegis,” which has turned out to be a huge hit, and is having many repeat performances!
It really couldn’t happen to a more deserving person, and we hope that this is just the stellar start for the heretofore unfairly overlooked and underestimated Aicelle.
To begin with, her home studio should belatedly realize the golden talent it has in its stable, and give her much bigger and better acting roles than she’s been getting on GMA thus far, like the “friend of Alessandra De Rossi” part she currently has on “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real.”
She’s too talented to be relegated to such unchallenging “shoulder to cry on” or “sounding board” parts—which she can do with both eyes closed, no sweat, ho-hum!