Hector Monréal (17 July 1839 – 20 May 1910) was a French

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicate ...

chansonnier A chansonnier (, , Galician and , or ''canzoniéro'', ) is a manuscript or printed book which contains a collection of chansons, or polyphonic and monophonic settings of songs, hence literally " song-books"; however, some manuscripts are call ...

and

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes play (theatre), plays, which are a form of drama that primarily consists of dialogue between Character (arts), characters and is intended for Theatre, theatrical performance rather than just Readin ...

, mostly known for his song ''

Frou-frou ''Frou-Frou'', is a French comedy film from 1955, directed by Augusto Genina, written by A. E. Carr, starring Dany Robin and Louis de Funès. The film is also known as "A Girl from Paris". Plot Frou-Frou is a 16-year-old peddler. She comes to t ...

''. A draftsman at the French Ministry of War, he left this position in 1862 to engage as an actor for the Théâtre Montmartre (1862-1864). He then became a cartoonist at '' Le Petit journal'' where he made the summary-signs posted every morning at the newspaper's door. He then embarked into theatrical writing with

Henri Blondeau Henri Marie Gabriel Blondeau (5 August 1841 – 4 May 1925) was a French playwright, librettist and chansonnier, famous for his song ''Frou-frou''. Biography A clerk by a stockbroker, he became known in the early 1860s by his ditties in the ...

. For forty years, their plays will be interpreted on the most important Parisian stages of the 19th century:

Théâtre des Variétés The Théâtre des Variétés () is a theatre and "salle de spectacles" at 7–8, boulevard Montmartre, 2nd arrondissement, in Paris. It was declared a monument historique in 1974. History The theatre owed its creation to Mademoiselle Montans ...

, Théâtre du Château-d'Eau,

Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques The Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques () was a theatre in Paris in the 19th and 20th centuries. Opened first in 1832 in the site of the old Théâtre de l'Ambigu-Comique on the Boulevard du Temple, under Frédérick Lemaître it became a noted ...

etc. Several of his songs were recorded and interpreted by

Suzy Delair Suzy Delair (born Suzette Pierrette Delaire; December 31, 1917 – March 15, 2020) was a French actress, dancer, singer, comedian and star of vaudeville. Early years Growing up in Montmartre, Delair was the daughter of a father who upholstered ...

, Berthe Sylva,

Bourvil André Robert Raimbourg (; 27 July 1917 – 23 September 1970), better known as André Bourvil (), and mononymously as Bourvil, was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy films, most notably in his collaboration with Loui ...

Line Renaud Line Renaud (born Jacqueline Ente on 2 July 1928) is a French singer, actress and AIDS activist. In her 80 year career, she has appeared in 86 films and TV films, released 25 albums and 114 singles. She has also appeared in 12 plays and written ...

inter alia See the list on the site of the BN

/ref>

Works

*1863: ''Les Oranges de mon étagère'', chansonnette, music by Henri Cellot *1865: ''Ça n'coûte que deux sous ! grrrrande revue du moment déroulée tous les soirs par Heudebert au Café-concert du boulevard du Temple'', with Blondeau *1867: ''Les Garçons charcuitiers !'', poésie bachique et mélodique *1867: ''Les Marchands de bois'', vaudeville in 1 act, with Saint-Yves (1808–1871), Saint-Yves *1867: ''Le Trombonne guérisseur'' (chanté dans les concerts de Paris) *1868: ''Les Hannetons de l'année'',

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural pre ...

in 3 acts and 8 tableaux, including a

prologue A prologue or prolog (from Ancient Greek πρόλογος ''prólogos'', from πρό ''pró'', "before" and λόγος ''lógos'', "speech") is an opening to a story that establishes the context and gives background details, often some earlier st ...

, with Blondeau *1868: ''Tapez-moi là-d'ssus !...'', revue in 4 acts and 8 tableaux, including 1 prologue, with Blondeau *1870: ''V'là les bêtises qui recommencent'', revue in 4 acts and 8 tableaux, with Blondeau *1872: ''Qui veut voir la lune ?'', revue fantaisie in 3 acts and 8 tableaux, with Blondeau *1872: ''Paris dans l'eau'', vaudeville aquatique in 4 acts, with Blondeau *1872: ''Une poignée de bêtises'', revue in 2 acts and 3 tableaux, with Blondeau *1872: ''La Veuve Malbrough'', operetta in 1 act, with Blondeau *1873: ''La Nuit des noces de la Fille Angot'', vaudeville in 1 act, with Blondeau *1873: ''Les Pommes d'or'', operetta

féerie ''Féerie'' (), sometimes translated as "fairy play", was a French theatrical genre known for fantasy plots and spectacular visuals, including lavish scenery and mechanically worked stage effects. ''Féeries'' blended music, dancing, pantomime, ...

in 3 acts and 12 tableaux, with Blondeau,

Henri Chivot Henri Charles Chivot (; 13 November 1830 – 18 September 1897) was a French writer and playwright, mostly known as an operetta librettist. Biography Henri Chivot was born in Paris on 13 November 1830.O’Connor, Patrick"Chivot, Henri Charles" ...

and

Alfred Duru Henri Alfred Duru (22 November 1829 – 28 December 1889) was a 19th-century French playwright and operetta librettist who collaborated on more than 40 librettos for the leading French composers of operetta:Alfred Duru. In: ''The New Grove Dictio ...

*1874: ''La Comète à Paris'', revue in 3 acts and 10 tableaux, with

*1874: ''Ah ! c'est donc toi Mme la Revue !...'', revue in 3 acts and dix tableaux, with Blondeau *1875: ''Pif-Paf'',

in 5 acts, including 1 prologue and 20 tableaux, with Blondeau and Clairville *1875: ''La revue à la vapeur'', actualité parisienne in 1 act and 3 tableaux, with Blondeau and

Paul Siraudin Pierre-Paul-Désiré Siraudin (18 December 1812 – 8 September 1883) was a French playwright and librettist. He also used the pen names Paul de Siraudin de Sancy, Paul Siraudin de Sancy and M. Malperché. Biography He wrote many plays, main ...

*1876: ''L'Ami Fritz-Poulet, parodie à la fourchette, mêlée de chansons à boire et à manger, en deux services, deux entremets et un dessert'', with Blondeau *1877: ''Les Environs de Paris'', voyage d'agrément in 4 acts and 8 tableaux, with Blondeau *1883: ''Une nuit de noces'', folie-vaudeville in 1 act, with Blondeau *1884: ''Au clair de la lune'', revue in 4 acts and 8 tableaux, with Blondeau and

Georges Grisier Auguste Marc Alphonse Georges Grisier (2 February 1853 – 5 June 1909) was a French playwright and journalist. He collaborated to numerous newspapers such as ''Le Figaro'', ''Paris-Journal'', ''Le Peuple français'', '' La Patrie'', '' La Franc ...

*1885: ''Pêle-mêle gazette'', revue in 4 acts and 7 tableaux, with Blondeau and Grisier *1885: ''La Serinette de Jeannot'', vaudeville in 1 act, with Blondeau *1885: ''Les Terreurs de Jarnicoton'', vaudeville-pantomime in 1 act, with Blondeau *1886: ''Paris en général'', revue in 4 acts and 10 tableaux, with Blondeau and Grisier *1886: ''Le Petit Canuchon'', vaudeville in 4 acts, with Grisier *1887: ''Mam'zelle Clochette'', vaudeville in 1 act, with Blondeau *1887: ''Paris-cancans'', revue in 3 acts and 8 tableaux, with Blondeau *1887: ''La Petite Francillon'', little parody in 1 little prologue, 3 littles acts eand 2 littles intermissions, with Blondeau and

Alphonse Lemonnier Alphonse Lemonnier, full name Hippolyte Alphonse Lemonnier, (20 August 1842 – 16 July 1907) was a 19th-century French journalist, novelist, chansonnier and playwright. Biography Lemonnier was born in Paris, 6me arrondissement. He made his c ...

*1888: ''Paris-boulevard'', revue in 3 acts, 8 tableaux, with Blondeau *1889: ''Paris Exposition'', revue inn 3 acts, 9 tableaux, with Blondeau *1891: ''Paris port de mer'', revue in 3 acts, 7 tableaux, with Blondeau *1892: ''Les Variétés de l'année'', revue in 3 acts and 9 tableaux, with Blondeau *1893: ''Les Rouengaines de l'année'', revue in 3 acts (7 tableaux including a prologue), with Ernest Morel *1894: ''La Revue sans gêne'', revue in 3 acts, 9 tableaux, with Blondeau and

Alfred Delilia Alfred Delilia, full name Alfred Georges Marie Delilia, (16 September 1844 – 5 May 1916) was a French playwright, journalist, and chansonnier. Biography A journalist under the pseudonyms Georges Davray for '' L'Événement'' and Alfred Didie ...

*1894: ''Vive Robinson !'', duo sans accords, with Blondeau and Delilia, music by Lucien Collin *1895: ''Tout Paris en revue'', revue in 3 acts and 9 tableaux, with Blondeau *1896: ''Une Semaine à Paris'', revue in 3 acts (11 tableaux), with Blondeau *1897: ''Paris qui marche'', revue in 3 acts, 10 tableaux, with Blondeau *1897: ''Paris sur scène'', revue in 3 acts, 8 tableaux, with Blondeau *1898: ''Folies-Revue'', revue in 3 acts, 9 tableaux *1900: ''Madame Méphisto'', pièce à spectacle, in 2 acts and 5 tableaux, with Blondeau *1901: ''La Nouvelle bonne'', vaudeville in 1 act *1901: ''Paris-joujoux'', revue in 2 acts and 6 tableaux, with Blondeau *1903: ''Le Cirque Ponger's'', bouffonnerie with extravaganza in 1 act *1903: ''Paris qui chante'', revue féerie in 2 acts and 12 tableaux, with Blondeau *1903: ''Olympia'', revue in 4 tableaux, with Blondeau *1904: ''On demande une étoile'', scènes de la vie de théâtre, with Blondeau *1909: ''Une Affaire arrangée'', comedy in 1 act, with Ferdinand Bloch

Bibliography

Pierre Larousse Pierre Athanase Larousse (; 23 October 18173 January 1875) was a French grammarian, lexicographer and encyclopaedist. He published many of the outstanding educational and reference works of 19th-century France, including the 15-volume . Early ...

, ''Nouveau Larousse illustré'', supplément, 1906, et ''Larousse mensuel illustré'', volume 1, 1910, * Silvio D'Amico, ''Enciclopedia dello spettacolo'', volume 5, 1962,

References

External links

''Frou-frou'' on Youtube

Discographie sur discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monreal, Hector 19th-century French dramatists and playwrights 20th-century French dramatists and playwrights 19th-century French illustrators French chansonniers People from Carcassonne 1839 births 1910 deaths