Epy does a Dolphy

EPY AND HIS DAD. Exceptional lineage.

King Comic Dolphy had many children, but it’s Epy Quizon who’s emerging as his true-blue scion and heir. Part of Epy’s exceptional edge and advantage is the fact that he looks a lot like his daffy daddy did in his youth—thin, pale, with sad, expressive eyes and pronounced cheekbones.

It certainly hasn’t been Epy’s intention to “ride” on his iconic pater’s fame, because he has more than enough talent, versatility and overall “K” to make it on his own. Still, he’s proud of his lineage, and its visual “proof” on his physical frame and facial features cannot be denied.

That’s why, in his latest TV drama series, “Oh, My Mama,” Epy comes across like Dolphy did in his “gaunt” film starrers, like “Jack and Jill,” in which he first swished and swayed his way to fame and glory. Since Epy’s character in the new afternoon “soap comedy” is established early on to be gloriously gay, the actor’s decision to go for the visual “homage” to the young Dolphy (and even the comedy star in his later, similarly “signature” outing in “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay”) is apt—and inspired.

Famous, well-loved father

With his role in “Oh, My Mama,” Epy finally embraces the fact that he looks like his famous and well-loved father. Besides, his performance makes it crystal clear that he isn’t leaning completely on the visual resemblance, he’s just using it as a “peg”—and then proceeds to create a characterization all his own.

Instructively, Epy is doing this now, when he’s already in his 40s, and has proven by way of his many past portrayals that he’s gifted and versatile in his own right, and can do much more than just being his dad’s referential and deferential clone.

In the new GMA 7 series, Epy plays the gay BFF (and former BF, until he outed himself) of Sheryl Cruz’s character. Being best buddies, they have each other’s backs, a bond that’s tested bigtime when they separately discover that their respective lovers have been faithless!

After breaking up with them, “Kla” (Epy) and “Kayki” (Sheryl) feel so bad that they get roaring drunk—and end up in bed together.

Fast-paced

All of this happened in just last Monday’s opening telecast, so we credit the new show for being fast-paced and keeping its storytelling eventful and interesting. We trust that it will make it a point to sustain its “up-tempo” approach in succeeding weeks, because viewers appreciate a show that doesn’t waste their time with endless detours, embellishments and back stories.

Which ways will the storytelling go? Since the show’s teasers more than hint that a lot of kids will be involved, the “Mama” part of the series’ title would appear to be a key giveaway—in more ways than one. Given the first telecast’s admirably eventful and expedient development, we should really get into the swing of its plotting twists and turns in no time at all.

In any case, the presence of “proven” leads like Epy and Sheryl assures us that we’re in good, experienced hands, at least in the acting department.  Let’s hope that the child actors who join them will follow their cue—and live up to expectations.