Veteran stars ‘rediscovered’ for ‘teleseryes’
BONNEVIE. Gives her show a patina of relative freshness.
So many teleserye are being produced these days that popular stars and character actors are in constant danger of overexposure. That’s why drama series producers have been “rediscovering” long-lost talents to give their new shows at least a patina of relative freshness.
Of late, for instance, we’ve had the pleasure of renewing acquaintances with Carmen Soriano, who plays the resident lola on “The Half-Sisters,” Victor Neri as Zaijian Jaranilla’s hoodlum-dad; Dina Bonnevie as one of the lovely meanies on “Sana, Bukas Pa Ang Kahapon,” Sunshine Cruz in “Pure Love,” Ayen Munji in “My Destiny,” Carmi Martin on the sitcom, “Ismol Family,” etc.
These and other comeback performers are fresher and easier to take than overexposed players essaying yet another character or villain role without even bothering to alter the way they sound or look.
Other veteran players we’d like to see on the small and big screens again this season include Hilda Koronel, who’s always good in any role she finds the time to play; Daria Ramirez, Isabel Rivas and Bembol Roco.
At the other end of the age spectrum, some teleserye have given younger talents a good showcase for their promising performing abilities.
Topping the list of young comers is Yeng Santos in “Pure Love.” The relatively underexposed talent does well as Isabel, the burger joint cook whose body is periodically “borrowed” by comatose Alex Gonzaga so she can solve the mystery of her grave accident and expose her fiance for the user that he is. It’s ironic to note that the series’ star is Alex, but she does less well than Yeng, who impresses with her depth and natural emotionalizing.
For her part, Alex is an occasional turnoff because she resorts to too many self-conscious gimmicks to make her portrayal “interesting.”
On “My Destiny,” Rhian Ramos’ desperately ill character provides her the opportunity to prove that she’s capable of coming up with more than just her usual decoratively lovely portrayal. Unfortunately, she still can’t fully plumb the depths of her character’s “extreme” emotions.
As for Carla Abellana and Tom Rodriguez, their popular tandem initially had a hard time getting their screen chemistry going—but, the good news is that they’ve finally been able to do so. Trouble is, as the sickly Rhian’s older sister, Carla is constrained to clamp down on her romantic feelings and give Tom up to Rhian’s character, who also loves him and has a more urgent need for his affection.
How will it all end? Last Wednesday, Carla opted to give Tom up and accept an offer to work abroad. However, since they’re the drama series’ leads, we suspect that, when all shall have been said and done, they will still end up—in each other’s “pre-destined” arms!
