Well-matched leads in memorable drama

GLAIZA de Castro and Marc Abaya worked organically together.

OTHER dream team-ups (from top): Coney Reyes and Ronaldo Valdez, Nonie Buencamino and Monique Wilson, and Bea Alonzo and Jericho Rosales

Most of the TV dramas we watch are initially promising, but eventually come up short in terms of genuine dramatic and thespic achievement, because their lead players are not well-matched in terms of talent. Star A may do really well, but his or her achievement is watered down and compromised by his or her coactor’s less focused and insightful performance.

Last month, however, we were treated to a dramatic experience on TV that was unusually rewarding, because it featured two lead players who were evenly-matched in terms of talent and experience, so their “shared” starrer really flared and flew!

The memorable viewing experience was provided by an episode on the GMA News TV anthology drama, “Wagas,” about the heroic couple, Diego and Gabriela Silang, who were portrayed by Marc Abaya and Glaiza de Castro, respectively.

Superlative talents

How wonderful it was to finally watch a show in which both leads were superlative talents. Separately and together, they were able to take their many scenes together to uncommon heights and depths, because they worked not just harmoniously but organically together, since they both knew the lay of the land, and each instinctively sensed where his or her coactor was going—and delightedly went along for the exhilarating ride!

It was also immensely rewarding that both lead players portrayed their acclaimed characters not as predictable “heroic” types, but as human beings who became heroes because they gave their daring assent when others timorously said no—or not yet!

This combination of basic humanity and next-level courage made their portrayals inspiringly accessible to the many timid and timorous people out there—so, take a well-deserved bow, Marc and Glaiza!

The “Wagas” episode was such a stirring thespic achievement that we hope that a savvy producer will next cast Glaiza and Marc in a full-length film, to take their shared thespic chemistry to an even higher level. In this age of “democratic” and economical indie film production, that’s a realizable dream project, isn’t it?

Sizzling viewing fare

More imminently, however, Marc has his ongoing teleserye (“Second Chances”), while Glaiza has another big challenge and showcase to focus on in the new drama series, “The Rich Man’s Daughter,” for which she’s been tapped to play the leading lady’s romantic interest.

DREAM team-up: Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III

Huh? No gender mix-up there: Glaiza was supposed to portray a lesbian in the new series, which we expect to become a hot and even sizzling viewing draw when it starts its run. If it’s edgily effective, it’ll be a feather in the caps of Glaiza and its other “daring” lead players.

P.S.: The surprisingly great chemistry between Glaiza and Marc in their “Wagas” episode has made us eager to catch other dramas in which the lead stars are beautifully and excitingly well-matched in terms of shared talent and insight.

Other “dream” thespic tandems to watch and wish for: Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III at their mature best, Jericho Rosales and Bea Alonzo, Coney Reyes and Ronaldo Valdez, and Monique Wilson and Nonie Buencamino.

And, for old times’ sake, Vilma Santos and Bembol Roco (they once costarred in the visually beautiful and memorable film, “Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak”)!