FROM left: Maricel Soriano, Dingdong Dantes and Lovi Poe
Now that some teleseryes have “cooked” their plot and character development to an appropriately hot-to-trot degree, they’re imminently headed for the sort of melodramatic confrontations that “deliciously” make TV fans’ viewing day.
Topping the list in this regard is “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real,” which for a long time now has been tantalizing viewers with a “dangerously” unfolding story of marital infidelity: Married to a decidedly older woman (Maricel Soriano), Dingdong Dantes has impregnated a young woman in Cebu (Lovi Poe)—and up and married her as well!
Both women have been amazingly clueless about Dingdong’s duplicity, refusing to read the handwriting on the wall or heed the fretful counsel of relatives and friends, who sense a ratty situation when they smell one—stinking to high heavens!
Well, even determinedly clueless women will eventually run out of alibis for the faithless and footloose man, whose heart or libido they perforce have to share! So, late last month on “Mrs. Real,” it was more than intimated that the long-delayed and much-awaited “confrontation scene” between the two Mrs. Reals was taking place soonest.
In fact, the show’s trailer already included footage of Maricel slapping Dingdong so hard that realistic welts formed on his iconically handsome face!
After that scene was played out in full (last July 28), of course, Maricel and Lovi finally crossed paths, and exchanged those ritual words of “quotable” recrimination, hate and pain that are teleserye “musts,” if viewers are to attain “closure” and “catharsis” after waiting for the pot to boil over for weeks!
Popular precedent
Only a few months ago, the hit teleserye “The Legal Wife,” did not disappoint in this regard, as Angel Locsin hurled invectives—and both her shoes—at Maja Salvador for seducing her husband (Jericho Rosales).
Does the Maricel-Lovi confrontation scene and its aftermath measure up to that exceptionally fierce display of wifely courage and thespic hubris? It had better, or else fans will be sure to loudly grumble about the discrepancy!
In our view, the feisty Maricel doesn’t disappoint since it’s obvious that she’s been building up to this key “moment” for weeks! Why, just recently, the big buildup proved to be so overwhelming that her character ended up in the hospital, where oxygen had to be supplied to help her simmer down.
Thespic choice
The problem could be Lovi’s corresponding portrayal. Thus far in the series, she’s tended to play it cool and low-key, even after a number of shocking revelations that would have pushed most other women to the emotional limit!
Now, this could be an intentional thespic choice on Lovi’s part, and she’s entitled to make it. Our worry, though, is that, when she and Maricel clash again, she could be roundly trounced and upstaged—and, of course, that would never do!
What about Dingdong? After being beaten up by Maricel in the show, all we can tell him by way of earnest advice is to take a deep breath, manfully face up to the repercussions of his character’s faithless ways—and run for cover!