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.

Biography

Norma Renault was born in Toronto, Ontario on July 28, 1923. As a young woman, she sang with the Leslie Bell Singers, 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. She began to act with an amateur group called the Deep River Players in Deep River, Ontario.

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. 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". 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), The Unforeseen (1958), and Festival (1960–1969) which aired on CBC Television.

Renault was a cast member in the television documentary film A Further Glimpse of Joey (1961), alongside Martha Henry in the CBC television drama Talking to a Stranger (1969) and in the three part miniseries You've Come a Long Way, Katie (1981).

Stage

Theatre

YearTitleRole(s)Theatre CompanyVenue(s)
1954A Jig for the GypsyCrest Theatre Ltd.The Crest Theatre
1954The Man Who Came to DinnerCrest Theatre Ltd.The Crest Theatre
1956The WomenCrest Theatre Ltd.The Crest Theatre
1957The Cherry OrchardVaryaThe Crest Theatre FoundationThe Crest Theatre
1958Salad DaysLady Raeburn, The Charlady, The Tarty Lady, Asphyxia (and the other arms), a Spinster, MargueriteThe Crest Theatre FoundationThe Crest Theatre
1959Ride A Pink HorseLorna Harvey, Immigration, Wanda McTavishThe Crest Theatre FoundationThe Crest Theatre
1959The MatchmakerThe Crest Theatre FoundationThe Crest Theatre
1959Under Milk WoodPolly Garter, Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard, Mrs. Cherry Owen, First Neighbour, Another Mother, Fourth Woman, 2nd Woman’s VoiceThe Crest Theatre FoundationThe Crest Theatre
1959Mrs. Gibbons' BoysMyra HoodThe Crest Theatre FoundationThe Crest Theatre
1959After HoursThe Stratford FestivalMountain Playhouse and Festival Concert Hall
1960Heartbreak HouseMrs. HushabyeThe Crest Theatre FoundationThe Crest Theatre
1960Honour Thy FatherBlancheThe Crest Theatre FoundationThe Crest Theatre
1962The American DreamGrannyThe Crest Theatre FoundationThe Grenville Street Playhouse
1980The Killing of Sister GeorgeJune Buckridge (Sister George)Theatre LondonMcManus Theatre
1981-1982Blithe SpiritMadame ArcatiTheatre London
1983LaterMollyToronto Free Theatre

Sources

  • Illidge, Paul (2005). Glass Cage: The Crest Theatre Story. Toronto: Creber Monde (Canada). ISBN 0968634796.

External links