(Montreal) A musical play inspired by the secret love story between La Poune and her lover, Gertrude Bellerive, will be presented by the Théâtre de l’Œil Ouvert starting next summer.
The theater chose Valentine’s Day, Wednesday, to reveal this love affair which lasted more than 40 years, until the death of Mme Bellerive in 1971.
La Poune’s granddaughter, Kathleen Verdon, has also agreed to share a previously unpublished photo of the two women at the National Theater.
The play, entitled The Giantesstells this love story between “Rose and Gigi”, which remained hidden at a time when relationships between two women were still taboo.
Gabrielle Fontaine, known to many children as Passe-Carreau, plays the role of La Poune, and Jade Bruneau plays Gigi.
The piece and the lyrics are written by Geneviève Beaudet and the music is composed by Audrey Thériault.
“ The Giantessit is the story of a flower that grows in the night, it is the legacy of a flame impossible to extinguish which continues to light the path of generations of women artists”, it is written in the announcement press release.
The show will be presented from July 11 in Joliette, then from August 15 in Victoriaville. The piece should then travel to Quebec in the summer of 2025.