HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2012-07-11, Page 2310 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Narcisse: A story worth telling
Carotin Parks mint!
Duncan McGregor Is directing Narcisse, a wonderful outdoor
play about visionary entrepreneur Narcisse Cantin and the
Village of St. Joseph.
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Play set in St. Joseph's Ai
Carolyn Parks Mintz
Special to Lakeshore Advance
What makes history come alive?
First, it takes dedication and attention
to detail. Secondly, it takes talent.
And last but not least, there must be a
good storyline.
The new play opening July 19 at
St. Joseph, south of Bayfield, has all
that and more.
A chance newspaper interview a
number of years ago stayed with Paul
Clufo —the discussion with Nap
Cantin had revealed an amazing tale
about the unusual man who was Nap's
French Canadian Grandfather---
Narcisse Cantin.
With the encouragement of the
St. Joseph & Area Historical Society,
Clufo eventually commenced
researching and writing a play about
this visionary entrepreneur, collabo-
rating with Stage Director Duncan
McGregor, to create, Narcisse.
Narcisse Cantle was many things to
many people—some true and some
not.
Often called the Father of the St.
Lawrence Seaway, Narcisse (as he is
usually known) was also a salesman
extraordinaire, a visionary, an inven-
tor, a devoted family man, a patriot,
and a thwarted empire builder.
Born south of Hayfield in 1870 to a
French Canadian family on a lakeside
farm, Narcisse of necessity had to help
with farming. However, at age 17, he
began his own business buying,
shipping and selling cattle from
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There have been
misconceptions about
Narcisse Cantin," says the
playwright. Judgments
were based on inaccurate
information. The play
sorts out history."
— Paul (:ittfo
1luron County to Buffalo, New York.
Following his marriage at age 19 to
Josephine Denomme, he relocated
them to Buffalo where, over the next
seven years, his business grew to
include his inventions of liquid
furniture polish and Instant Crockery
Mender (a fixative that repaired iron,
glass, crockery, stone, leather, wood
and billiard balls—the first Crazy
Glue), as well as representing the Gas
Consumers Benefit Company and
introducing Walter Jackson's auto-
matic pressure regulating gas burner.
In 1896, the couple and their chil-
dren (who would ultimately number
10) returned to the Village of Lakeview,
today's St. Joseph—the site of Narcisse
Cantin's great vision.
Totally bilingual at a time before
that was important, Narcisse parlayed
his business connections Into
non-stop promotion and development
of St. Joseph, the boomtown he
established.
Time spent on Lake i luron's shore-
line and in Buffalo next to the Erie
Canal afforded Narcisse the opportu-
nity to become well acquainted with
shipping traffic and the movement of
goods.
Forever the optimist and charis-
matic advocate, Narcisse forged
friendships with prominent people,
including American steel magnate
Charles Schwab and recently canon-
ized Brother Andrea, founding cleric of
Canadian
Cancer
Society
St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, as
well as gaining the support of the
Federal government of the day.
The story of the Cantin family, the
town's development and the endles. 1
pursuit of his dream to build a canal
from Lake Huron to Lake Erie unfolds
in a well written production faithfully
dedicated to presenting its beginning,
its middle and its end—all the highs
and lows.
"There have been misconceptions
about Narcisse Cantin," says the
playwright. "Judgments were based
on inaccurate information. The play
sorts out history."
"I talked to many people in
St. Joseph who knew the story," Oulu
goes on. "And I had access to archives
preserved by the Cantin family, as well
as many letters written by Narcisse. 1
got to know the man through his own
words."
Narrated by Nap, his son in the play,
the successes, the trials and the
tribulations of Narcisse are distinctly
familial as well as international.
A truly community production,
Narcisse includes a talented cast of 51
drawn from throughout Iluron
County. The play stars gifted actors
Rob Bundy, Susan Armstrong, Mathieu
Burdan, Guppy Onn and Cam Laurie
in key roles.
Under the able direction of Arlene
Darnbrough, the play's orchestra
includes 14 different instruments,
And the songs and music of Nar-
cisse are absolutely beautiful --
whether performed by the orchestra,
the women's chorus, the entire ensem-
ble, or soloist Roberta Walker of Grand
Bend.
Adding to this seemingly endless
compendium of winning elements,
Narcisse will be performed in an
outdoor theatre—in St. Joseph, on the
grounds of historic St. Peter's Catholic
Church.
Don't miss this wonderful,
family -friendly production. It's hound
to be one of the hits of I luron County's
theatrical season.
Performances July 19-23 & 26-30;
Tuesday -Friday at 6 p.m. /Saturdays
6:30 p.m.
Reserve tickets through the Myth
Festival Box Office at 1 877.062-5984
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canadienne
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