Eugene Benson (born 1928) is a Canadian professor of English and a prolific writer, novelist, playwright and
librettist
A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major litu ...
.
Early life
Born in
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
, Benson obtained a bachelor's degree from the
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland (NUI) ( ga, Ollscoil na hÉireann) is a federal university system of ''constituent universities'' (previously called ''university college, constituent colleges'') and ''recognised colleges'' set up under t ...
, a master's degree from the
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario (UWO), also known as Western University or Western, is a Public university, public research university in London, Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by resident ...
and his PhD from the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...
.
Career
Benson is the librettist of six operatic works: ''Heloise and Abelard'' (1973, performed by the Canadian Opera Company, music by Charles Wilson); ''Everyman'' (1974, performed by the Stratford Festival, music by Charles Wilson); ''Psycho Red'' (1978, presented by The Guelph Spring Festival, music by Charles Wilson); ''Ernest, the Importance of Being'' (2008, performed by Toronto Operetta Theatre, music by Victor Davies); ''The Auction: A Folk Opera'' (2012, premiered by
Westben Arts Festival Theatre, music by John Burge); ''A Tale of Two Cities'' (2016, premiered by Opera in Concert, Toronto, music by Victor Davies). ''Everyman'' and ''Psycho Red'' were broadcast by the CBC (
Canadian Broadcast Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (french: Société Radio-Canada), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a federal Crown corporation that receives funding from the government. ...
).
[
Benson wrote two novels, ''The Bulls of Ronda'' (1976) and the political satire ''Power Game'' (1980). He has written four plays broadcast on the ]Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (french: Société Radio-Canada), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a federal Crown corporation that receives funding from the government. ...
and, with his wife, Renate Benson, has translated plays from Quebec French. In 2003, he and Bill Fraser adapted ''Powergame'' as a TV movie, ''North of America''. His plays include ''The Ram'' (1967, broadcast by McGill Radio), ''Joan of Arc’s Violin'' (broadcast by CBC in 1970 and published and staged in 1972), ''The Gunner’s Rope'', (broadcast by CBC in 1970 and published and staged in 1972), and ''The Doctors’ Wife'' (broadcast by the CBC in 1973). With his wife, Renate Benson, Eugene has translated a number of French Canadian plays. He edited the periodical ''Canadian Drama''. He has written four plays broadcast on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (french: Société Radio-Canada), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a federal Crown corporation that receives funding from the government. ...
and, with his wife, Renate Benson, has translated plays from Quebec French. He edited the periodical ''Canadian Drama''. In 2003 he and Bill Fraser adapted his political satire ''Powergame'' (1980) into the TV movie ''North of America''.
Benson's scholarly publications include ''J.M. Synge'' (1982), ''English-Canadian Theatre'' (1987), ''The Oxford Companion to Canadian Theatre'' (1987), ''The Routledge Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English'' (1994, 2nd ed. 2005) — the last three co-edited with L.W. Conolly — and ''The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature'' (1997, second edition, with William Toye). He edited the anthology ''Encounter: Canadian Drama in Four Media'' (1973) and the scholarly journal ''Canadian Drama/L’Art dramatique canadien'' (1980–90).
Benson was President, Administrative Director and Budget Officer of the Guelph Spring Festival for many years, and is a former Chair of the Writers' Union of Canada
The Writers' Union of Canada (TWUC), founded in 1973, describes itself as supporting "the country's authors by advocating for their rights, freedoms, and economic well-being." Its members are professional writers who must have published at least o ...
(1983–84). He was Founding co-President, with Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, environmental activist, and inventor. Since 1961, she has published 18 books of poetry, 18 novels, 11 books of non-fiction, nin ...
, of the Canadian Centre of International PEN (1984–85), and served as its Vice-President (1985–90). He was President of PEN Canada
PEN Canada is one of the 148 centres of PEN International. Founded in 1926, it has a membership of over 1,000 writers and supporters who campaign on behalf of writers around the world who are persecuted, imprisoned and exiled for exercising their r ...
in 1984.[
In 2019, he published a memoir, ''The Symmetry of the Tyger'', an account of his involvement in Canadian culture.
]
Personal life
He married Renate Niklaus, a languages and literature professor at University of Guelph
, mottoeng = "to learn the reasons of realities"
, established = May 8, 1964 ()As constituents: OAC: (1874) Macdonald Institute: (1903) OVC: (1922)
, type = Public university
, chancellor ...
, in 1968. Together they have two sons: Ormonde, a lawyer, and Shaun Shaun is an anglicized spelling of the Irish name Seán. Alternative spellings include Shawn, Sean and Shawne.
Notable persons with the given name include:
People
*Shaun (musician) (born 1990), South Korean musician
*Shaun (YouTuber), British vi ...
, an actor.[ Renate Benson is the author of ''German Expressionist Drama'' (1984) and other books.
]
Works
Works edited
*''The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature'', co-edited with Willliam Toye (1983, 2nd ed. 2006)[
* ''The Oxford Companion to Canadian Theatre'', co-edited with L.W Connolly (1989)
* ''Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English'', co-edited with L.W. Connolly (1994, reissued 2005)
]
Works written
* ''Encounter: Canadian Drama in Four Media'' (1973)
* ''Bulls of Ronda'', a novel (1976)
* ''J.M. Synge'', a biography (1980)
* ''Power Game: The Making of a Prime Minister'', a novel (1980)
* ''English Canadian Theatre '', co-written with L.W. Connolly (1987)
Libretti for operas
* ''Héloise & Abélard'' (1973)
* ''Psycho Red'', with music by Charles Wilson (1978))
* ''Earnest, The Importance of Being'', with music by Victor Davies
Victor Albert Davies is a Canadian composer, pianist, and conductor, best known for his opera ''Transit of Venus'' and '' The Mennonite Piano Concerto''.
Biography
Davies was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1939. As a child and teenager, he st ...
(2008)[
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Eugene
1928 births
Living people
Canadian literary critics
Northern Ireland emigrants to Canada
University of Western Ontario alumni
University of Toronto alumni