Soap Opera Weekly
September 25, 2007
Applause Applause

Outstanding performer for the week of Aug. 27

Catherine Hickland can do a lot with just a look. So it was no surprise when she movingly conveyed Lindsay’s panic – for herself, for her friends, for an innocent child – after her arrest with minimal dialogue.

“Lindsay Rappaport, you are arrested for the murder of Spencer Truman,” John announced at the Woman of the Year banquet. As the guests tried to comprehend what was happening, a silent Lindsay seemed strangely accepting. “For God’s sake, please cuff me and take me in,” she pleaded.

With quiet resolve, Lindsay assured anyone who asked that “everything would be all right” in a voice so firm and clear it was as if she was trying to convince herself. When Marcie (a moving Kathy Brier) begged Lindsay to tell the truth Lindsay couldn’t reply, but the sole tear going down Hickland’s cheek betrayed her.”

A showdown between John and Lindsay at the station was part interrogation, part flirtation, part confession and part therapy session. “Don’t I get booked or fingerprinted?” Lindsay asked with an out-of-body-like detachment. Hickland avoided making eye contact with John (Michael Easton at the top of his game, too), as if that made the situation less real. “I know you killed Truman and I know why,” John said, breathing down her neck. A silent Hickland just inhaled as if that would fuel her composure.

And then John identified the elephant in the room: Tommy. A tensed-up Hickland played dumb for a moment. “You don’t want that coming out any more than I do,” she teased, finally making eye contact. “Talk to me like you are Michael’s brother, Tommy’s uncle,” she challenged.

Realizing she’d struck a nerve, Lindsay regained her composure and drive, and became the advocate for Tommy and the McBains. Hickland even tapped into Lindsay’s playful side. “You don’t know what you are going do,” Hickland said coyly. “Why didn’t you call Child Services?”

John kept focused on getting the facts “from the time you learned who Tommy really is,” and gouged a chink in Lindsay’s armor. Hickland began to tear up as she begged John to keep the Tommy secret for the sake of Michael and Marcie: “If the truth comes out, it will destroy them. I’m not going to say anything,” Lindsay promised.

Lindsay’s fate may be up in the air, but Hickland’s performance was truly arresting.