Soap Hub Performer of the Week for General Hospital: Leslie Charleson

Drew Cain’s return to the land of the living on General Hospital resulted in heavy emotional fallout. Stepmother Monica Quartermaine was one of the folks with whom Drew reconnected. For playing a powerful reunion with her stepson, Soap Hub bestows Performer of the Week honors for GH on Leslie Charleson (Monica).

Leslie Charleson – Performer of the Week

Monica has lost many loved ones over the years – her husband Alan Quartermaine (the late Stuart Damon), and her children, A.J. Quartermaine (Sean Kanan), Emily Quartermaine (Natalia Livingston), and, now, Jason Morgan (Steve Burton). But the fates returned to the land of the living the presumed dead Drew, now played by fan-favorite Cameron Mathison. The actor’s new to the show so the writers gave him a nice introduction to the Quartermaine branch by tying him to a long-running holiday tradition – Drew showed up with a stack of pizzas for Thanksgiving.

Drew started to say he was “back” but Monica cut him off, telling him where he truly was – “home.” She warmly embraced the late Alan’s son, welcoming him back into the fold. It was necessary to establish some exposition out before the drama could play out. The Q family recapped how long Drew had been away and what he had to do to make his way home.

Monica said that she assumed the absent Jason (Steve Burton) was with his children, leaving it to Drew to inform the Quartermaine matriarch that his twin is presumed dead. “He’s gone, isn’t he? Jason’s gone,” Monica tearfully surmised as Drew started to tell her Jason’s fate.

The Quartermaines and Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) were sad about Jason but all eyes were on Monica as her heart was filled with conflicting emotions — joy over Drew’s return, heartache over the loss of Jason. When Drew said that he regretted that his freedom cost them all Jason, Monica refused to let him go down that path. “Don’t you ever say anything like that again! You and Jason are both my sons in every way that matters. One doesn’t count more than the other,” Monica tearfully shared, embracing Drew again as she needed both to be comforted and also wanting to comfort him on his loss.

Monica (Leslie Charleson) did about Jason what people do when they learn of a loved one’s passing – she recounted the last time she saw him when he was happiest (at his wedding to Carly, played by Laura Wright). “Carly and Jason said it was a business arrangement…but you know it was more than that,” Monica said.

Monica recalled the day Jason became her son following the death of his birth mother, Susan Moore (Gail Ramsey). “The minute I took him in my arms, he stole my heart,” Monica recalled. “The good part is that every time we were together, I told him I loved him.”

A soap opera’s greatest asset is its veteran characters and history. GH made sure that fan favorite and Daytime Emmy nominee Leslie Charleson was given scenes in which she could shine as Monica. Brava to the actress for her emotional offerings.

Honorable Mention: Kudos must also go this week to James Patrick Stuart for his portrayal of Valentin Cassadine. The poor guy doesn’t know the whole story of Bailey’s parentage but he’s been told the most relevant part – he’s not the infant’s father! The GH scribes knew that the only way for Valentin to get past the pain was to, well, go through the pain. He shared an emotional farewell with the daughter he’d come to love as his own. Valentin’s heart wasn’t the only one breaking. Ours were, as well, courtesy of both Stuart’s and Leslie Charleson’s performances this week.

General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Port Charles, check out all the latest that’s been posted on GH spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.