Larry Hodgson gets the “last laugh” making goofy faces with members of his Quebec Art Company family. (Photo by J.P. Chartier) LARRY HODGSON (1954-2022) – Larry made us laugh: A tribute from the Quebec Art Company
Submitted by Cheryl Rimmer and the Quebec Art Company
Editors’ note: Acclaimed Quebec City horticultural writer Larry Hodgson passed away on Oct. 26 at the age of 68. While Hodgson was known around Quebec and Canada as The Laidback Gardener or Le Jardinier paresseux, within the local English-speaking community, he was perhaps best known for his stage presence.
The Quebec Art Company (QAC) would like to pay tribute to a gentleman we considered an integral part of our company, as well as a friend, sharing his talent and humour since the early 1990s.
Larry Hodgson was valued onstage, both to work with and watch, as well as a delightful attendee at a show he wasn’t in, especially a comedy. That man had the most infectious laugh and got every nuance and joke. We would apprise the actors whenever we had Larry in our audience so they were prepared for the ensuing laughter. He could turn a murder mystery into a farce!
Venerated as one of Quebec’s favourite gardening gurus, he was a busy man. For the last 20-odd years, he was involved mostly in QAC musicals, which we do every two years. He would always check well in advance when the next production was slated so he could, if possible, work his travel schedule around it. We were so glad he did because he embraced each of his roles with genuine enthusiasm and unabashed delight.
Some of his most memorable performances include Alfred P. Doolittle (My Fair Lady), Ali Kahim (Oklahoma), Luther Billis (South Pacific), Nicely-Nicely Johnson (Guys and Dolls), Moonface Martin (Anything Goes), Dindon (La Cage aux Folles) and Elwood P. Dowd (Harvey).
Give the man any opportunity to try something crazy and he was a big kid in a candy store. Coconut-shell brassiere, wigs, heels, hula skirt, tipsy Cockney, invisible giant rabbit, dancing gangster … bring it on, he’d say. Only Larry could get away with it with his sig- nature goofy grace that we all treasured!
We are so honoured to have had the opportunity to share some time, love, laughs and cherished memories with Larry and his family in his final days. He will be sorely missed, fondly remembered and captured forever in our archival photos and DVDs. Gone too soon, but what a beacon of dignity and courage facing his fate.
Wouldn’t it be loverly to doolittle more… ♪♫
Larry will be greatly missed. Sought out his advice when it came to gardening. But I can say I have known Larry since 1959 when we both started public school at H. A. Halbert P.S. & R. H. King C. I. We even played together in the public school band. He played the trombone. Will miss his advice and have been thinking of him in the past few weeks. Hard to loose someone you have known most of your life.