Rex Theater (Haiti)

The Rex Theater (French: Rex Théâtre) is a theater in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, that was opened in October, 1935.[1][2] It was built by the Société Haïtienne des Spectacles (Haitian Entertainment Corporation), led by Daniel Brun.[2]:77 The theater seated 1200 people and was managed by Mrs. Muffat Taldy until 1951.[2]:77,413

Rex Theater
General information
Town or cityPort-au-Prince
CountryHaiti
Completed1935

Cultural events

The Rex has been the site of many cultural and entertainment events. In its first week, the Rex Theater screened films that included La Bataille (The Battle), La Robe Rouge (The Red Dress), Gai Divorce (The Gay Divorcee), and Banque Nemo (Nemo's Bank), and its first play was performed in April 1937.[2]:77 A performance at the Rex was given by Marian Anderson.[2]:77

Political events

On various occasions events at the Rex have had a political focus or political implications. For example, on 20 December 1945, as the first of a planned series of twelve lectures, the poet André Breton spoke at the Rex on "Surréalisme".[3]:119 Upon completing his lecture, which was attended by six hundred students as well as the president of Haiti and many of his ministers, senators and deputies, and some military dignitaries and business people,[3]:373

legend has it that Breton did not shake President Lescot's hand upon leaving the Rex Theater... If true, President Lescot would have taken the gesture as a public affront, and those in attendance would have read it as an act of solidarity to their cause.... the publication of the speech in La Ruche led to the Haitian government's seizure of the magazine and the imprisonment of certain of its editors, including Depestre, in turn provoking a student demonstration that led to the fall of President Lescot.[3]:119–120

Many years later, in 2001, the Rex was the planned site of an opposition political event.[4] The Rex Theater had been the initially planned site for the "inauguration" of Gérard Gourgue as an "alternative president".[4]:121 However, "the theater's management, fearful of popular outrage, canceled the event".[4]:121

References
  1. Antonin, Arnold (2008). "Cinema in Haiti". Small Axe. Duke University Press. 12 (3_27): 87–93. doi:10.1215/-12-3_27-87.
  2. Cham, Mbye B. (1992). Ex-iles essays on Caribbean cinema. Trenton, N. J.: Africa World. ISBN 9780865432758.
  3. Benedicty-Kokken, M. D. (2014). Spirit Possession in French, Haitian, and Vodou Thought: An Intellectual History. Lexington Books. ISBN 9780739184660.
  4. Sprague, Jeb (2012). Paramilitarism and the assault on democracy in Haiti. New York: Monthly Review Press. ISBN 9781583673003.

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