College theatre
In the classical education developed by the Jesuits in the 16th century, rhetoric was held
in high esteem, and theatre played an important role. It is worth noting that Corneille,
Molière and Voltaire were first introduced to the theatre as students under the Jesuits.
French Canadian colleges inherited this theatrical
tradition, which truly came into its own around 1850. Students performed not only
classical works, but comedies, operettas and farces as well.
Outside the colleges, the theatre was less popular and
tended to be limited to performances of light comedies. In the early 1930s, however, a
theatrical revival was spurred by Gustave Lamarche, c.s.v., and Émile Legault, a father
of Saint-Croix. Thanks to their efforts, serious theatre regained its rightful place and
its status as a great art. Through Christian theatre, the two men paved the way for the
renaissance of the theatre.
Of the four colleges most active in mounting plays, two
were run by the Clerics of St. Viator--Collège Bourget, in Rigaud, and the
Séminaire de Joliette--one by the Jesuits--Collège Sainte-Marie--and
one by the Fathers of Sainte-Croix--Collège de Saint-Laurent.
The Clerics of St. Viator enjoyed tremendous popular and
critical success in 1933 with Jonathas, a play by Gustave Lamarche.
