Applause, Applause: Outstanding Performer for Week of July 14, 1997
As soon as word spread through Llanview that Téa had married Todd, the consensus was, to use Antonio’s words, that the new Mrs. Manning was ‘nuts’ to align herself with the town’s devil incarnate. Since the marriage is only a business agreement to help Todd retain custody of Starr, the newlyweds – Téa in particular – had to present a picture of marital bliss to convince the skeptics. When the character had to defend her motives, Florencia Lozano was given yet another opportunity to demonstrate what a powerful performer she is.
Depending on whom she was speaking with, Lozano’s Téa could be haughty, self-righteous, defensive or apologetic over her decision to marry Todd. When she broke the news to Carlotta, she was almost like a little girl asking mommy not to be mad at her because she had misbehaved. However, when Antonio realized what his childhood playmate had done, all hell broke loose.
What began as a ‘Who’s on first?’ routine (Antonio thought Téa was discussing Javier; she thought Antonio was dissing Todd) quickly turned into one of the best deliveries of a monologue heard recently on a soap. Standing outside the Vega home, Téa spoke of the ‘darkness and walls’ that defined her childhood existence – living in a basement apartment with her father, the superintendent of a posh Park Avenue building. Then one day something magical happened to little Téa: She was invited to a birthday party in a sun-filled apartment on the 10th floor. ‘Everything,’ she told Antonio, ‘was white. The mothers, the children…the birthday cake.’ As she said this, Lozano’s face glowed, as if an inner light was guiding her. When her conversation turned to the end of the party and her having to return to the basement, Téa became dark again, saying ugly things and thrashing about the back yard, frustrated by the ambiguity of her feelings. Suddenly, she stopped. As Téa, Lozano collected her thoughts and excused herself from Antonio, saying she had to meet her husband. But not before Antonio warned her that by marrying Todd, she’s still in the darkness.
Téa made a deal with the devil. So did Persephone, who sacrificed herself to Hades. But the god of the underworld allowed Persephone to escape the darkness each autumn and spring; perhaps Téa will be as lucky. Maybe she and Todd will fall in love, which will save each of them from the darkness of their souls. More importantly, maybe Téa will learn to love herself. Whatever Téa’s fate may be, one thing is certain: Lozano’s star shines bright. – Irene S. Keene
Florencia Lozano (Téa, One Life to Live)
