The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-01-03
Priest Who Writes PLAYS.

Priest and playwright is the odd com
plnaton of professions for which the
Rev. Father NJ j. MarSile is rapidly be-
coming famous. AS the only priest Of
the Roman Catholic church in this cour-
try with highly developed and prac-
teal knowledge of stagecraft, his posi-
ton IS unique.
The Rev Father Marsile is at present
the president of St. Viateurs college. in
Bourbonnais Grove, Ills. While he holds
supreme sway in this institution over sew
efal hundred active and energetic boys,
who consume the major portion of his
| time, nevertheless Father Marsile has
found few hours in which to turn to
the making of plays and to a deep and
thorough study of all the dramatic liter
ature in the worlds history.
Father Marsile is a literary student in
every sense of the word, and has gained
MS inspiration and first impulse to write
in the dramatic form from careful study
OF the dramatic classes of both the
French and English schools. Shakespeare
especially has been his preceptOr The
dramatic classics written in the dead
languages have equally had an Influence
upon his imagination. And, since this
priest is nothing if not artistic, his recep-
tive brain is bound to be productive under
such circumstances.
Three clever dramas have already come
from his pen. They are, IF l Were
a King, "The Young Crusaders" and
The Young Martyrs, aft of which have
been produced by ambitious dramatic or
state. As the titles of these dramas in
dicate, they are romanceS of the highest
order, full of action, lofty sentiment and
commanding influences. Thhey are all
more or less historical, and have liter
airy value which has lent them added
worth as vehicles for study and dramatic
presentation by students.
Father Marsile has just completed a
tragedy in French verse, called Lewis:
Or The End of New France" 1t is built
in five acts, and probably will see the
light of the professional stage. 1t IS
about to be published in book form, and
is expected to take a high rank in con-
temporary dramatic literature. ro-
mantle historical operetta called st.
Patrick is also the work of Marseile,
with the assistance of Father Kelly of St.
Nia-eur's college, who wrote the score.
Father Kelly is director of music in the
institution, and the operetta, which had
its first trial there, will be brought to
Chicago and have production at the
Illinois theatre on the afternoon of March
II. This performance is given for the
benefit of the gymnaSiumS of the college,
and will be repeated the same evening in
the beautiful new hall of st. Xavier s
academy at the invitation of She sis
terS The operetta Will be presented en-
tirely by the young men students of St
Viateurs, and nearly 125 persons will
take part. There is to be chorus of 100
trained voices, with special scenery and
costumes, prepared for the Chicago pro-
duction.
For some years Marsile has made it his
aim to instill in the minds of his boys
deep and thorough understanding and a
love for Shakespeare which will follow
them through life. 1t has been customary
to present a Shakespearean play each
season at the college, and noteworthy
student productions of Richard IL,
Richard Ill Henry VIII and Ham
let have been made. Brothers Nawn and
guile, at present assistant tutors at st.
Mary's college, have taken leading parts
in these plays and have shown marked
dramatic talent as actors.
Father Marsile is of French birth. and
received his training in Rome and Paris
He has been a priest for twenty-five
years. He is also a poet, and, two vol
umes of French verse are the production
of his ready pen.
Bourbonnais Grove, where Father Mar
sile writes, is a quaint little historical
French settlement, three miles from the
city of Kanlxakee. 1t is still wild and
woody in its virgin beauty, where the
touch of nature has not been assailed by
the encroachment of civilization. 1t is IN
the seclusion of this retreat that Father
Marsile finds his most telling and inspired
thoughts.