The evening times., 1896-01-04
COMING TO THE THEATERS.

His Wife's Father will be Seen all OF
next week at the Lafayette Square Opera
House. Its producer is William II. Crane.
and his success in it ever since it first saw
the light in this city nearly a year ago is said
to have been exceedingly pronounced -'
The comedy was written by Mrs. Martha
Morton, the young woman who furnished the
actor with Brother John" She pre-
vailed upon Mr.. Crane one day to read her
play, and he started in reluctantly 10 90 so.
When he finished the reading he secured fhe
rights OF the play, and was seized with Il
desire to see If the comedy would strike
the public as ii did him. He placed it
I'm rehearsal, and ON the closing night or
piece trial. The very favorable impress
sion that it left behind 1t then is still re-
membered. '''~ ''"
The plot OF the comedy is simple, but for
truth in il that forms an important part in
social life. A devoted father yields the
hand OF his daughter toa worthy young man,
makes h I'M a partner in his business, a nd then
out of selfish love for his child tries to
control the household affairs, and ma IN g~s
to all but ruin the future of the newly
welded pair by his ill-timed interfcrences
i'll their domestic arrangements.
1t viii he seen that the play reverses tbe
mother-iIf-law idea, and that as source OF
domestic jars the father-ih-iaw W has taken
her place. Mr.. Crane plays the part OF the
testy and cantankerous old trouble-naker,
and he is said to portray it with rich vein
OF drollery.
Miss O'Nein will lie the young wife; Mr..
Ar,lew the husband, and Miss Barry the
widow Mrs. Canary. Mr.. Joseph Wbcelock
jr., and Mr.. Percy Brooke, both OF whom
were seen in one OF the stock companies in
tnis ciiy last summer. Will re3ppear III
the parts originated by them.
The play will be strongly east and ar
tisticaliy staged, the scenery gotten up for
the New York run being used.
on Sunday evening John Philip sonSa and
his peerless band Will appear al the
Lafa yette Square.
Sousa's band is universally admitted the
finest on tour in the country today. The
renowned musician at its head Is rare
illustration OF the born leader and 10 his
force and personal ma Gnet ism, allied with
the individual talents Of the bands mem-
bership, can be traced the surprising ex-
celleDce OF the organization The band
comes to Washington fresh fronfg gfr1t m
renewed triuInphs at the st. Louis and ! =
laDta expositions, and is dayirg M SUI
perb form. The critical musical public, as
well as that larger nd more catholic cody-
the public that loves and appreciates music
of the lighter yeiD-will both he amply sat
isfied by the program presented by Sousa
and his famous band.
The Gridiron Club has secured Il large
block OF seats, as they intend TO attend
in n body as compliment To MIR. Sousa.
The box office Will be open tomorrOw at
IL O'Clock.
Robert Manteil, tue celebrated romantic
actor, comes To the Grand Opera House ON
Monday evening in very brilliant rep
ertoire. On Monday, Tuesday and Satur-
day evenings and al the matinee Saturday.
he will appear in his dual impcrsona tiOn OF
Louis and Fabien del Franchi, in Alex
andre Dumas heroic drama, The Corsi-
can Brothers,
1t was largely owing to his handsome and