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Ferron, Jacques

Playwright born in Louiseville, Quebec , January 20, 1921, died in Longueuil, Quebec, 1985. One of five children, his father was a notary. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was eleven.

He studied at Collège Brébeuf, then at Laval University. In 1945 he joined the army. After the war he moved to the Gaspé. In 1948 he moved back to Montreal.

He took from his chosen profession, doctor of medicine, material for his writing. He also worked as critic at the Petit Journal and Maclean's (1966-70) and wrote not only for the stage but for radio as well. He was also a well-known essayist and novelist.

In 1963 he created the Rhinoceros Party, created to draw attention to serious issues in a completely humourous way. He was also an important figure in the 1970 October Crisis, negotiating with the terrorist Front de Liberation du Québec (FLQ). A play about him (Une Véillée chez le Maréchal-Ferron) opened at the Théâtre Denise-Pelletier in March, 2000.

M. Ferron's plays run the gamut from farce to serious political commentary to satire to discussions of the structure of theatre itself. He also wrote several novels and short stories.

His plays include: Le Licou (Troupe de l'Errant Canadien, 1958), L'Ogre (Théâtre-Club, 1958), Le Cheval de Don Juan (Troupe de l'Albatros, 1966), Les Grands Soleils ( Théâtre du Nouveau Monde , 1968), La Sortie (Théâtre de la Place Ville Marie, 1965).

Last updated 2006-11-17