By PIT M. MALIKSI
Being a regular follower of GMA-7 primetime drama-series, I intend to show their slips near the end part so as not to spoil the viewers’ good time. In case of “The Cure” (TC), I can’t help but call out some implausible frustrations all at once, with a hope that the writers and the loyal fans won’t take great offense but take the tip good naturedly instead. Let me cite some of GMA top-rated soaps first of all.
Since its first edition seven months ago, “Kambal Karibal” (KK), has seen its stock float to a high point. It emerges stronger, luckier enough to notch at the top of ratings leaving its competitor from the other networks behind – still hopefully, until it takes a bow next month. This ghost-switching drama swiftly creeps into every household, as
viewers sit back, relax, and enjoy watching Bianca Umali, Miguel Tanfelix, Kyline Alcantara, Jeric Gonzales with no small help from competent actors Carmina Villaroel, Alfred Vargas, Jean Garcia, Pauline Mendoza, and Jake Vargaz.
On the debit side, Bianca has the good looks but she lets her acting spotlight go with her nasal delivery of the dialog made most inaudible when she cries. In our speech class, I would advise anybody with similar problem to produce sound from the diaphragm made by closing the air passage (as in “dip”).
Another relative speech problem came to the bedimpled-pretty-faced Ruru Madrid, the main lead of the just-concluded “Sherlock Jr.,” who consciously controls his mouth to agape (wide open) in heated confrontation.
Matt Evans, Gabbi Garcia, Christopher de Leon, and Marvin Agustin didn’t act with much slacks either, in their respective drama series.
“The One That Got Away” (TOTGA) which ends next week, is the one to beat for its classy, light, and speedy romance-comedy hype. The viewers stay all out for TOTGA to tell the creative writers – they do appreciate the importance of putting it over the top of the ratings because of the natural ensemble acting of Rhian Ramos, Renz Fernandez, Jason Abalos, Lovi Poe, Dennis Trillo, Max Collins, Ivan Dorschner, with the able support of Snooky Serna, Bembol Roco, Migo Adecer and the angelic lovable kid Euwenn Mikael Aleta. Most of them feel sorry though that they don’t get invested with the self-indulgent comedy-acting of Nar Corbito, who understandably, might have carried over his stage-acting habit on TV.
And now with “The Cure.” On its pilot-run, it’s hard to comment on the development of the story yet. I just could feel that nobody wants to watch dramatic scenes one after another, in dragging close-ups, in the currents of flat experimental debates, from a miscast. Every time the cast of TC does its rounds of nightly appearances, we erupt not in applause, but in wonder why are more effective actors not acting in TC? We find it funny, if a bit uncomfortable, the English lines thrown by LJ Reyes, Jay Manalo, especially Jacklyn Jose.
They look conscious and sound synthetic, with the exception of Tom Rodriguez, of course, who saves the day for the flaws and omissions of his company blurting out English with might and main.
The names of Cherrie Gil, Rhian Ramos, Megan Young, or a Fil-Am actor come to mind who would have rightfully belonged to the league of much better TC players, say many. Incidentally, I remember the critics and the late director of “T-Bird at Ako,” Danny Zialcita, who raved how the quintessential Nora Aunor as a 24-year-old lawyer spoke in her flawless English in defending Odette Khan in court, and Maryo J. delos Reyes who directed “Naglalayag,” a Nora Aunor movie which handed out her 4th international Best Actress honors from Brussels, where she portrayed a 50-year-old menopausal judge with smart diction in English.
Well, time and age won’t run out for TC actors to sharpen their twang and be casually instinctive. Who knows, in the next outing, TC may cross the top-five border line of the ratings game.
(Pit M. Maliksi, an alumnus of UST and Central Texas College, was Most Outstanding Professor for 12 years at PUP-STB (Sto. Tomas, Batangas), of which he is the founder of Mga Apo’ Ni Tomas, a civic society of a thousand young professionals, the Youth Development and Educational Program Officer of Kiwanis International STB Chapter and STB Municipal’s Public Information Office, and an English teacher at La Consolacion College, Tanauan City.)
