Norma Renault
Norma Renault | |
|---|---|
| Born | Norma Jacqueline Renault July 28, 1923 Toronto, Ontario |
| Died | March 3, 2012 (aged 88) Toronto, Ontario |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse | Avrom Isaacs (m. 1956–1987) |
Norma Renault (July 28, 1923 – March 3, 2012) was a singer and actress who starred in theatre, television, and film productions in Canada and London, England, including the musical Salad Days at the Crest Theatre in Toronto.[1]
Biography
Norma Renault was born in Toronto, Ontario on July 28, 1923. As a young woman, she sang with the Leslie Bell Singers,[1] a female choir formed in 1939 from former pupils of Leslie Bell at Parkdale Collegiate Institute in Toronto, which became the Leslie Bell Singers in 1945.[2] She began to act with an amateur group called the Deep River Players in Deep River, Ontario.[1]
Renault starred in theatre productions in Canada and London, England, including the musical Salad Days at the Crest Theatre in Toronto and on the road in New York City, as well as Epitaph for George Dillon at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario.[1] She is mentioned for her role in the Crest's production of The Man Who Came to Dinner along with Amelia Hall (both "beloved Canadians") who prompted bouts of audience laughter during every exchange of dialogue. "Even Nathan Cohen admitted (perhaps somewhat inscrutably) that he found the production amazing".[3] In all, Renault performed in 12 Crest productions, and produced a production of Epitaph for George Dillon at the Crest in 1960.
From 1950–1970, she worked in productions for various television shows, often for the Canadian Broadcasting Company. She appeared in four episodes of the TV series Folio (1955–1959),[4] The Unforeseen (1958), and Festival (1960–1969) which aired on CBC Television.[5]
Renault was a cast member in the television documentary film A Further Glimpse of Joey (1961),[6] alongside Martha Henry in the CBC television drama Talking to a Stranger (1969)[1] and in the three part miniseries You've Come a Long Way, Katie (1981).[6]
Stage
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Theatre Company | Venue(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | A Jig for the Gypsy | Crest Theatre Ltd. | The Crest Theatre | |
| 1954 | The Man Who Came to Dinner | Crest Theatre Ltd. | The Crest Theatre | |
| 1956 | The Women | Crest Theatre Ltd. | The Crest Theatre | |
| 1957 | The Cherry Orchard | Varya | The Crest Theatre Foundation | The Crest Theatre |
| 1958 | Salad Days | Lady Raeburn, The Charlady, The Tarty Lady, Asphyxia (and the other arms), a Spinster, Marguerite | The Crest Theatre Foundation | The Crest Theatre |
| 1959 | Ride A Pink Horse | Lorna Harvey, Immigration, Wanda McTavish | The Crest Theatre Foundation | The Crest Theatre |
| 1959 | The Matchmaker | The Crest Theatre Foundation | The Crest Theatre | |
| 1959 | Under Milk Wood | Polly Garter, Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard, Mrs. Cherry Owen, First Neighbour, Another Mother, Fourth Woman, 2nd Woman’s Voice | The Crest Theatre Foundation | The Crest Theatre |
| 1959 | Mrs. Gibbons' Boys | Myra Hood | The Crest Theatre Foundation | The Crest Theatre |
| 1959 | After Hours | The Stratford Festival | Mountain Playhouse and Festival Concert Hall | |
| 1960 | Heartbreak House | Mrs. Hushabye | The Crest Theatre Foundation | The Crest Theatre |
| 1960 | Honour Thy Father | Blanche | The Crest Theatre Foundation | The Crest Theatre |
| 1962 | The American Dream | Granny | The Crest Theatre Foundation | The Grenville Street Playhouse |
| 1980 | The Killing of Sister George | June Buckridge (Sister George) | Theatre London | McManus Theatre |
| 1981-1982 | Blithe Spirit | Madame Arcati | Theatre London | |
| 1983 | Later | Molly | Toronto Free Theatre |
References
- ^ a b c d e "Obituary". www.legacy.com. Globe and Mail, 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Article". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ Illidge 2005, p. 41.
- ^ "Cast and Credits". www.imdb.com. Imdb. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Actors". imdb. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ a b "tv people". www2.bfi.org.uk. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
Sources
- Illidge, Paul (2005). Glass Cage: The Crest Theatre Story. Toronto: Creber Monde (Canada). ISBN 0968634796.