Shortly before new episodes of The Young and the Restless went off the air in April, fans were enjoying the shenanigans between Chance Chancellor (Donny Boaz) and Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway). The new couple has been a hoot to watch, especially as their blossoming romance mostly involves adventurous sprees that annoy Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) -- who at one time was part of a love triangle with the pair. As soon as new episodes of Y&R hit the screen again, Chance and Abby's relationship is sure to keep ripening -- and Phyllis' annoyance will probably ripen right along with it -- which could make for some fun summer shenanigans.
In a new interview with Soap Opera Digest, Boaz reveals that though Phyllis was a part of Chance's story when he first returned to Genoa City, he kind of had a hunch that his character would end up with Abby.
"The mock sides for my character in the audition kind of implied that it was Abby, but I was the rookie in the game," he says. "They did the triangle thing for a while and then it became pretty clear where this was headed. I think Chance has put it on the line. 'Woman, I'm not playing games with you anymore. You're all that I want.'"
Funny enough, Ordway's first impression was that Phyllis would probably be the winner in the end.
"I [thought maybe he'd be for Abby] a little bit, but not 100 percent, because Michelle Stafford was kind of involved in that storyline, as well. I didn't know if Chance was for Abby or for Phyllis," she shares. "I didn't want to get too excited because Abby has had so many love interests that end up falling apart, like the sex trafficker who she thought was perfect for her. So, when Chance went out on a date with Phyllis, that kind of threw me for a loop. I was like, 'Maybe there's still a chance for Chance and Phyllis,' so I was really excited when it became Chance and Abby. I feel like it's such a good match."
In fact, both Boaz and Ordway quickly realized just how good of a match their characters are and had a tough time controlling themselves during their early scenes.
Says Boaz, "There was one day they needed about four takes from me because I just wasn't giving them exactly what they wanted with Michelle. 'You have to act like you're into her,' and I'm like, 'But I'm into Melissa's character!'"
Adds Ordway, "I remember we were in Society and Abby and Chance had been out on just one date. The director said, 'Okay, you're touching him too much. You're not in a relationship yet.' I felt like they're such a good match that it's almost impossible sometimes to not play that!"
As viewers have already seen, Chance and Abby are willing to go the extra mile for each other -- even if it means breaking the law. And that is likely to lead to all kinds of fun when the show resumes.
"Instead of the soap opera love triangles, find your partner and go on shenanigan crimes!" jokes Boaz of the pair's dynamic. "I like that they go on these little adventures together and push each other's buttons. I think that has its own interesting aspect more than just running around all over Genoa City with everybody. I like that back and forth but yet they're heading in the same direction."
Says Ordway of what she hopes for the couple's future: "I do want Abby to finally find her happily ever after. I would love to see them get married and have a family. Abby as a mom would be hilarious. They would definitely have their problems and all of that, but I think Abby's finally found her match."
Says Boaz, "We're on the same page. I'd like them to have a future, but again, it's not just happily ever after. I want the speed bumps and the hurdles to show how they get through them, but I don't want all the triangles on the side. I'd rather go on adventures and see how they handle them. I like these two as a couple. I don't want to be a dumb-dumb like Arturo [Jason Canela] and cheat on her."
Obviously, both Ordway and Boaz get along like a house on fire in real life, as well -- which helps bring that special something to their characters' connection.
"We are buddies," Boaz says of Ordway. "We're like-minded. We finish each other's sentences half the time. She is one of my best friends in town and I couldn't be more thankful for her. She's so passionate about everything, not just her job, but everything. It's infectious just to watch her love of life. How could you not like that?"
Adds Ordway, "I thought he was so nice and we got along so well immediately. I only had positive things to say about him. I didn't know who was going to get [the role], but I was hoping it would be Donny. I thought he would be a great addition to the show, so I was super-excited when he got the role... I was even more excited when Donny started working. Every morning he would text Michelle and me and ask what our coffee order was from Starbucks. I was like, 'All right, this guy's a keeper!'"
For more from Boaz and Ordway about Chance and Abby, check out SOD's full interview here. And for more from Boaz about working with Michelle Stafford and how he's adjusted to life on a soap opera, check out Soap Central's interview with the actor here.
What do you think about Y&R's Chance and Abby as a couple? What are you hoping to see for the characters when the CBS soap returns with new material? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
