Hosanna (play)
Encyclopedia
Hosanna is a 1973 play by French-Canadian writer Michel Tremblay
.
The story takes place in Montreal, Quebec and centres around the relationship between Hosanna, a drag queen dressed as Elizabeth Taylor
's Cleopatra, and Cuirette, an aging "stud" and homosexual biker. This play takes place in Hosanna's apartment, "somewhere in the Plaza Saint-Hubert", after she and Cuirette have returned from a Halloween party.
The play deals with several issues including gender identity, sexual identity, the ignorance and acceptance of ageing, and social expressions of homosexuality. Hosanna discusses the relationship with his mother and shows his anxieties over her knowledge of who he really is.
The play was translated into English by John Van Burek & Bill Glassco.
Hosanna was first performed at le Théâtre de Quat'sous in Montreal, Quebec, on 10 May 1973. Hosanna was first performed in English at Tarragon Theatre
in Toronto, Ontario, on 15 May 1974. Hosanna then appeared on Broadway
in New York City at the Bijou Theatre
on 14 October 1974.
Michel Tremblay
Michel Tremblay, CQ is a Canadian novelist and playwright.Tremblay grew up in the Plateau Mont-Royal, a French-speaking neighbourhood of Montreal, at the time of his birth a neighbourhood with a working-class character and joual dialect, something that would heavily influence his work...
.
The story takes place in Montreal, Quebec and centres around the relationship between Hosanna, a drag queen dressed as Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
's Cleopatra, and Cuirette, an aging "stud" and homosexual biker. This play takes place in Hosanna's apartment, "somewhere in the Plaza Saint-Hubert", after she and Cuirette have returned from a Halloween party.
The play deals with several issues including gender identity, sexual identity, the ignorance and acceptance of ageing, and social expressions of homosexuality. Hosanna discusses the relationship with his mother and shows his anxieties over her knowledge of who he really is.
The play was translated into English by John Van Burek & Bill Glassco.
Hosanna was first performed at le Théâtre de Quat'sous in Montreal, Quebec, on 10 May 1973. Hosanna was first performed in English at Tarragon Theatre
Tarragon Theatre
The Tarragon Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Canada, and one of the main centers for contemporary playwriting in the country. Located near Casa Loma, the theatre was founded by Bill and Jane Glassco in 1970. Bill was the Artistic Director from 1971 to 1982. In 1982, Urjo Kareda took over as...
in Toronto, Ontario, on 15 May 1974. Hosanna then appeared on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in New York City at the Bijou Theatre
Bijou Theatre
Two Broadway theatres have been named the Bijou Theatre.The first was converted into a theatre in 1878 and rebuilt in 1883. It was often called the Bijou Opera House and was located at 1239 Broadway. It was also sometimes called The Brighton Theatre. It became a popular venue for operettas in...
on 14 October 1974.