FROILAN. Spot-on casting.
MANY OF the faces we see on TV are of the “same old, same old” type, so their “as expected” performances offer precious few surprises.
Once in a while, however, an unexpected casting choice is made that makes us sit up and savor the relative freshness it provides.
We felt this pleasant jolt of surprise recently when we watched “Be My Lady,” the late-morning drama series topbilling Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsunaga, and we saw that the supporting role of Erich’s probinsyano grandfather was being played by—Ballet Philippines’ former premier danseur, Nonoy Froilan!
The casting decision wasn’t only fresh and unexpected, it was also spot-on, because Nonoy is a sweet, genial probinsyano at heart, and is doing believably and well in the role.
Kudos to the production person who had the bright idea of going through the standard list of “mature character actors,” bypassing all of the usual suspects, and instead opting to give the lolo role to—Nonoy!
Come to think of it, now that we’re on the subject of unconventional and unexpected casting choices, Nonoy’s wife, top dancer-choreographer Edna Vida, is also quite an interesting and vital performer—so, could she turn out to be a “surprise” acting find as well?
We’d love it if another talent caster taps her to play a feisty, non-dancing character in another show. Should that pan out, the next copacetic step would be to cast Nonoy and Edna together in yet another production!
We were also pleased as punch last week when we caught a telecast of “My Super D” and saw that the key role of the fantasy-action-drama series’ top villain has been assigned to—Ronaldo Valdez.
The show may be “just” a frothy fantasy, but Ronaldo imbues his predictable “vile villain” character with sufficiently realistic danger and insidious, corruscating evil to make viewers dread what he’s planning to do next!
On “Ang Probinsyano,” the same believably “dreadful” effect is the essential consequence of Eddie Garcia’s own villainous star turn.
Other, less capable villains may scowl and spit fire and fury for all they’re worth, but their superficial efforts look phlegmatic and picayune when compared to Ronaldo and Eddie’s much more internalized, textured and masterful evocations of existential Evil!
—What would action-drama teleseryes do without them?