Théâtre Montcalm presents On court toujours après l’amour March 6 to 8 at St Jean Centennial Hall, offering audiences a light-hearted look at love, family and all the complications in between.

For 36 years, Théâtre Montcalm has brought laughter to the stage in Saint-Jean-Baptiste. This year is no exception.   

Julie Legal, president of the Comité Culturel de Saint-Jean-Baptiste and actor with the troupe, says selecting the right play takes considerable work. She reviews scripts online, narrowing the field to find one that aligns with the troupe’s standards and audience.  

“You want to find a text that's going to be funny because we're here to entertain. We just want to have fun. We want to keep it light and funny,” says Legal.  

The troupe also looks for scripts written in accessible French built around themes audiences can recognize and understand. Legal adds that human relationships consistently meet those criteria, offering both universality and humour.  

“Human relationships are complicated, they're funny, they're messy, and people really love, especially the dynamics between men and women. It's always funny. And so we like to kind of focus on that idea. And usually we always get a good laugh.”  

She adds that working in a small community with a limited pool of French-language actors presents challenges.  

“We kind of try and stick to plays that have between five and six characters because finding more than that becomes a challenge.”  

Inside the story  

The story follows two families whose lives become intertwined. On one side are a mother and her daughter and on the other, a father and his son. The central conflict revolves around a daughter who wants to get married and a mother who is firmly opposed to the idea.  

“There’s kind of like an interesting twist because we kind of would expect the opposite,” Legal says.  

Balancing humour with genuine emotional tension is part of the challenge, Legal says, adding that finding the right tone is key.  

“We want to be funny, but we also want to address that this is still a struggle that the relationship is going through. So we're being silly, but we also want to present it correctly or adequately.”   

a poster in french

A commitment to quality  

Théâtre Montcalm is an important part of the community, supported by a loyal audience that returns year after year. Because of that ongoing support, Legal says the troupe strives to maintain high standards in every production.   

“We have a lot of fun. We joke around, but we take it very seriously. We want to produce something that's a quality product and we really want to share that with as many people as we can.”  

The commitment includes about three months of rehearsals, along with the support of many dedicated and passionate volunteers who help make the production possible.   

“There's so many people who are involved I mean, none of this could happen without them. It's not always easy to find these people, but the ones that do commit are absolute gems,” says Legal.  

She also praises director Melanie Sabourin, who is returning for a second year in the role.  

“She’s very organized, very understanding. She listens and she contributes, and it’s a really interesting process with her.”  

A community tradition  

In a community where French-language cultural events are limited, Legal says the production is an important and well-established offering. Audiences come not only from Saint-Jean-Baptiste but also from neighbouring towns, sometimes arriving by bus.  

“This is something that people know about and expect, and for something like this to happen en Français in Saint-Jean-Baptiste today is so valuable and I am really proud to be a part of it.”  

It’s also an opportunity for people to stay after the play, chat with friends they may not have seen in a while, catch up, and enjoy a drink, Legal says.  

Playtime for adults  

Lynne Brémault Parent is another seasoned member of the cast, returning for another production this year.  

"It's always a lot of fun preparing this play. We enjoy drama and theater and getting together to put on a play that brings joy to people. We always present comedies. And we know that times are heavy sometimes. And so it's giving an opportunity for people to get together and laugh together.”  

The cast is made up entirely of returning members, including Shane Barnabé, Marc Payette, Natasha Sarrasin and Sylvie Gauthier, creating a strong sense of camaraderie. That familiarity also allows them to take risks on stage notes Brémault Parent.

“There’s a certain level of comfort and confidence in each other... So we know what to expect and how to support each other. And I think that's what's pleasant about this experience... So if somebody needs that extra support, then the others can step in as well as feel supported.”  

For both women, the experience is about more than memorizing lines. Legal describes it as a rare chance for adults to simply play.  

“As an adult, we don't have as many opportunities to just play and be silly and have fun like we did when we were kids,” she says.   

The opportunity to clear her mind and focus entirely on the production is why Legal returns to the stage year after year.  

“When you're doing this, you can't think about what you should maybe be doing, but you're not doing… I’m not worried about what we’re having for dinner. I'm just doing this. And it's so nice to have that release.”  

Parent Brémault echoes that sentiment.   

“We get to go out and play with our friends. You feel like a little kid when you're out there. And yeah, it's work and there's responsibility because you need to do your part… but it's just fun to go out and work with these people.”  

Both Legal and Brémault Parent are also schoolteachers, and they say seeing student involvement makes the production especially meaningful. Students assist with makeup and also work as technicians, helping with sound and lighting under the director’s guidance.  

“It's just so much fun to see that intergenerational effort to give this community this gift,” says Brémault Parent  

Performances take place Friday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20, available on Eventbrite or at the door.