I <3 Books

Les Canadiens
Rick Salutin
1977

This is a play about Canadian history intertwined with the history of The Montreal Canadiens.

This play is outstanding. It's a unique idea, of the kind which Canadian theater should see much more. It has pride for both the hockey team and the country and approaches the history of each with Salutin's usual unapologetic left wing perspective. It opens on the Plains of Abraham, with the gun used to shoot Montcalme turning into a hockey stick. It goes from there sort of alternating between major events in the history of Canada and major events in the history of The Canadiens. It's not very touching or personal, but it does draw you in, and anyone with a passing knowledge of Canadian history is rewarded with through an understanding of the witty and clever framing of much of our history. I've never seen this play live, and I doubt I ever will (though I would jump at the opportunity to do so were it to come about) but it seems nearing impossible to stage successfully. It is full of action, roller skating, shooting hockey pucks, fights, and transitions from hockey rink to off ice. The only way I could see it being done, other than on a mega-production scale, wouls be to slim it down immensely and leave a lot to the imagination of the audience.