Narcisse

Synopsis

Narcisse the Play tells the story of arguably one of Huron County’s most colourful residents – Narcisse Cantin – best known for his audacious plan to create a mammoth canal cutting across Southwestern Ontario, connecting Lake Huron to Lake Erie from St. Joseph to Port Stanley. Cantin turned St. Joseph into an early 20th Century boomtown on speculation of the canal’s construction. This charismatic promoter forged friendships with prominent people including American steel magnate Charles Schwab and Brother André, founding cleric of St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montréal and canonized in 2010.

A rich experience and a standing ovation for the original idea of Narcisse, the Play. Goderich Signal Star

[Narcisse] speaks to the pride of a community and the descendents of a Southwestern Ontario ghost town that once held the promise of becoming a major urban centre. London Free Press.

Premier Performance Details

On July 19, 2011, the history of St. Joseph was brought to life through the play Narcisse. Through an epic outdoor performance, the community honoured its past and celebrated its ancestors.

With a cast of 55 Huron County residents, locals in St. Joseph, Ontario starred in their own true heritage tale of one of the most colourful residents of their rural French-Canadian settlement.

The St. Joseph and Area Historical Society spearheaded this pioneering play. Local folks assumed the lead roles, stitched the costumes and built the props.

The production was feted with a Governor General’s History Award.

YouTube Videos

Cast

  • Narcisse Cantin – Rob Bundy
  • Josephine Cantin – Susan Armstrong
  • Nap Cantin – Mathieu Burdan
  • Fiddler, Salesman, Industrialist, MP Sherritt – Capucine (Cappy) Onn
  • Oliver Cabana – Cam Laurie
  • Brother Andre, Musician, St. Joseph Citizen – Marcel Richard
  • Secretary to Oliver Cabana – Racheal Regier
  • Spencer, Salesman, Industrialist, Musician, Women’s Chorus – Lora Lee Paulger
  • Speaker of the House of Commons, Young Nap Cantin, St. Joseph boy, Brick Picker, MP – Nathan Paulger
  • Willaim Walsh, Cantin Supporter, St. Joseph boy, Musician – Elliot Paulger
  • Schwab, Salesman, Anderson, Hess, Women’s Chorus, MP, Citizen – Aimée Rau
  • Waiter, St. Joseph Citizen, Women’s Chorus, MP – Veronica Rau
  • Foster, Strongman at Fair, Priest, MP, Brick Picker Manager – Dave Siebert
  • Musician, Mr. Walsh, St. Joseph Citizen, MP – Martin Gelinas
  • St. Joseph Citizen, MP, Women’s Chorus – Cosette Gelinas
  • MC at the Air, Stewart, Salesman, Industrialist, Citizen, MP, Bartender – Bev Shea
  • Citizen, MP, Women’s Chorus – Larissa Shea
  • Salesman, Industrialist, Reed, Bissonette, Citizen, MP – Barb Pepper
  • Willis, Industrialist, Citizen, MP – Christa Ducharme
  • St. Joseph boy, MPO – Lucas Ducharme
  • Musician, Vocal Soloist, Citizen, Women’s Chorus, MP – Roberta Walker
  • Server, Sergeant at Arms, Citizen – Brendan Walker
  • Salesman, MP Tartre, Citizen, Women’s Chorus – Claudette Léger
  • Salesman, Industrialist, Citizen, MP – Tania Harvey
  • Musician, Wheel Chair Victim, Corriveau, Fair Organizer, MP – Shawn Harvey
  • Citizen, Daughter of Wheel Chair Victim, MP, Women’s Chorus – Sydney Harvey
  • St. Joseph girl, Cantin Daughter, Citizen, MP – Olivia Harvey
  • St. Joseph girl, Cantin Daughter, Citizen, MP – Amelia Harvey
  • Musician – Scott Bradford
  • Musician, Bartender, Louis Cantin, MP – Jamie McClellan
  • St. Joseph girl, MP, Citizen – Sara Nogucira
  • St. Joseph girl, Fair heckler, MP, Citizen – Rachel Bundy
  • St. Joseph girl, MP Citizen, Women’s Corus – Katrina Steckle
  • Citizen, U.S. newspaper kid, Cantin Supporter, MP – Jillian Bjelan
  • Citizen, U.S. newspaper kid, Cantin Supporter, MP – Robyn Bjelan
  • Positive Exeter Investor, Cantin Supporter, Balmoral Employee, MP – Faith Robinson
  • Valerie Cantin, Citizen, MP – Skylaugh Robinson
  • St. Joseph girl, Citizen, MP – Emma Laporte
  • St. Joseph boy, U.S. Bicycle Rider, Brick Picker, MP, Unit Organizer – Donovan Jeffrey
  • St. Joseph girl, Brick Picker, Citizen, MP – Monica Jeffrey
  • Citizen, Cantin Supporter, Brick Picker, MP, Women’s Chorus – Courtney Groot
  • Musician, U.S. Bicycle Rider, Citizen, Women’s Chorus – Courtney Conway
  • St. Joseph Girl, Citizen, MP – Charlotte Hartman
  • Citizen, Cantin Supporter, MP – Caroline Regier
  • St. Joseph girl, Citizen, MP – Anastasiya Kubrak
  • Citizen, Balmoral Employee, Brick Picker, MP – Amanda Pittao
  • Citizen, Negative Exeter Investor, Fair Heckler, Brick Picker, MP – Ally Connelly
  • Citizen, Cantin Supporter, MP, Women’s Chorus – Abby Parsons
  • St. Joseph boy, Wilfred Laurier, Cantin Supporter, Citizen, Tyler Parsons
  • St. Joseph boy, older Jean Cantin, Brick Picker, Citizen, MP – Isaac van Aaken
  • St. Joseph boy, younger Jean Cantin, Brick Picker, MP – Nigel van Aaken

Production Staff

  • Director: Duncan McGregor
  • Project Coordinator: Karen Stewart
  • Technical Director: Ross Barnett
  • Musical Direction: Arlene Darnbrough
  • Costumes and Set Decoration: Sherri Milburn
  • French Canadian Advisor: Claudette Léger
  • Production Stage Manager: Steve Allen
  • Prop Organization: Dianne Miller
  • Costumes: Sherri Milburn, George Blackwell, Cecilia Fauker, Lin Marsden, Veronica Hotchkiss
  • Sound: Travis Teed
  • Props: Ray and Maureen Langridge, Dianne Miller, the children
  • Set Carpenters: Dave Siebert, Steve Allen, Ross Barnett
  • Great Lakes Map Creator: Paul Coustiels
  • Set Painters: Sherri Milburn, Kim Dahonick
  • St. Joseph Models Creators: Marc Cantin, Pauline Cantin
  • Wheelbarrow Creator: Shawn Harvey
  • Outdoor Site Preparation: Mike Miller