The cast of CANE could be considered an all star line up. Jimmy Smits, Rita Moreno, Hector Elizondo, and Nestor Carbonell head this fantastic cast. Set in modern day south Florida the Duque family is in the sugar business. They have been in the sugar business for years and have moved from producing sugar to producing rum and other types of spirits. As with most television drama’s there are intricate relationships that are developed early that helps the viewer understand the characters as they are developed during the show.
For example, in CANE we learn that Alex Vega, played by Jimmy Smits, was sent over by his family during the Cuban revolution. Apparently this was a common practice and many times the families were able to be reunited. But, in the case of Alex Vega this did not happen. He was taken in by the Poncho Duque (played by Hector Elizondo) family and treated as a son. The twist comes here. Alex is married to Poncho Duque’s daughter Isabel. So, not only has Alex been taken in and treated like a son, he has married Poncho’s daughter.
Of course for every good guy like Alex, or is he a bad guy, there is a bad guy brother. In this case, that would be Frank Duque, played by Nestor Campbell. Frank is more into the money side of the family. He likes fast boats, fast women, and a different type of life style than Alex or his father, Poncho. Frank apparently was sickly as a child, although I’m not sure what that has to do with his character at the moment, but it is mentioned by Poncho when he tells Frank that he will not be running Duque enterprises. He passes the leadership of the company to Alex.
In the midst of the family interactions we have the Samuels family who owns a competing sugar plantation/company. They want to buy out the Duques sugar producing land. Their point is that they are in the business of producing sugar and the Duque’s are really in the business of producing rum. The sale of the land would be good for both companies, at least according to the Samuels. Frank Duque has been having an affair with Ellis Samuels, of the Samuels sugar empire. Of course she has been working Frank for the sale of the sugar land to Samuels. Frank makes his pitch for the sale to Poncho. Alex tells them that they should not sell the sugar production side of the business because sugar has just been approved by the government for the production of ethanol. The Samuels are trying to take advantage of them. Of course, Poncho sides with Alex and the rift between Frank and Alex is widened.
This was a great premier and I would highly recommend this show. Some will compare it to Dallas or Dynasty of old, but I think it has its own flavor and I think this is going to be a winner!
