Gratien Gélinas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gratien Gélinas
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| Born | December 8, 1909 Saint-Tite, Quebec, Canada
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| Died | March 16, 1999 (aged 89) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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| Resting place | Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery |
| Occupation | author, playwright, actor, director, producer |
| Known for | Tit-Coq, Bousille et les Justes, Hier, les enfants dansaient |
| Spouse(s) |
Huguette Oligny
(m. 1973) |
| Relatives | Mitsou, granddaughter |
Gratien Gélinas (December 8, 1909 – March 16, 1999) was a very important Canadian writer, actor, and director. He also worked as a producer and administrator. Many people see him as one of the main people who started modern Canadian theatre and film.
His most famous works include plays like Tit-Coq (1948), Bousille et les Justes (1959), and Hier, les enfants dansaient (1968). He also created a series of funny shows called the Fridolinades.
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The Fridolinades Shows
The Fridolinades were popular shows that featured comedy sketches, songs, and monologues. These shows were named after a special character called Fridolin. Fridolin was a poor boy from Montreal. He wore a colorful Canadiens hockey jersey, knee socks, and suspenders.
Fridolin spoke French in a way that people heard on the streets of Montreal. This was different from the more formal French used in other theatres. Fridolin always stayed hopeful, even when things were tough. This made him a symbol of the Quebec spirit of "survivance," meaning to keep going and survive. He became one of the first true Canadian heroes on stage. People loved his work so much that they called Gélinas the first playwright "de chez nous" (from our place).
His Famous Play: Yesterday the Children Were Dancing
One of Gélinas's important plays was Hier, les enfants dansaient, which means Yesterday the Children were Dancing. The whole play takes place during one night in 1966. It talks about the political situation in Quebec at that time. However, all the characters in the play are made up.
The story is about Pierre Gravel, who is thinking about taking a big job in a political party. During the play, Gravel's sons, André and Larry, tell him something surprising. They admit they are part of a group that wants Quebec to be separate from Canada. They also say they are responsible for some bombs that have been causing trouble in the city.
Founding the Comédie-Canadienne
Gratien Gélinas also started a theatre company called the Comédie-Canadienne. This company was very active and put on many shows. It continued its work until 1972.
Awards and Family
Gratien Gélinas received many important awards for his work. In 1967, he became an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is a high honor in Canada. Later, in 1989, he was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada. In 1985, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec. He also received an honorary degree from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1989.
He married Huguette Oligny in 1973. Gratien Gélinas is the grandfather of several talented people. His granddaughter Mitsou Gélinas is a famous actress and pop singer. Another granddaughter, Abeille Gélinas, is a TV host, writer, and actor. His granddaughter Anne-Marie Sicotte is a writer who wrote a book about his life.
Gratien Gélinas passed away in 1999. He was buried at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal.
Filmography
Gratien Gélinas also worked on several films. Here are some of them:
- La dame aux camélias, la vraie - 1942
- Fridolinons - 1945
- The Plouffe Family (La famille Plouffe) - 1953
- Tit-Coq - 1953
- Red - 1970
- Cordélia - 1980
- Peau de banane - 1982
- Agnes of God - 1985
- The Canadian Conspiracy - 1985
- The Mills of Power (Les Tisserands du pouvoir) - 1988
