Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-19
MIR. CRANE HERE THIS WEEK.
He VIII he Seen I'm Three or HIS
Most Popular Plays.

He VIII he Seen I'm Three or HIS
Most Popular Plays.
Mr.. Crane takes possession Of the stage
at the Mozart Academy Of Music the lat
ter half OF this week, opening his engage
ment with the production of his new play,
THE Governor of Kentucky" The play
] has had much success elsewhere, and VIII
undoubtedly be witnessed by a large
audience. The play will be repeated on
| Saturday night. The bill on THURSDAY
night and at the Saturday matinee VIII
be His Wife's Father" charming COM
| edv Of domestic life. Friday nights Of
| fering will be "The Senator" The Cow
ernor OF Kentucky" is the work OF Frank
| lin Fyles, a well-known literary man, ana
comes here bearing many excellent re-
| commentators. IL was produced Tor the
| first time at the F1fth-Avenue Theatre, In
| New York, in January, and during the nVe
weeks that II held the boards in mat city
| Il is said to have been witnessed by
| series of large and gell-pleased audiences
| II was the general verdict that the play
| could have run the season out In the city,
| and II was only prevented from doing so
| by the obstinacy OF the Italian actress
| Nine Duse who absolutely refused 10
| give ND her time at the theatre 10 the
| comedian. Tho play bills describe the
| play as a pretentious comedy In four acts.
| and. as its title suggests, It's prlnclpI
! character Is a southerner' Nliiah Lee
| tha Governor OF Kentucky. All OF the
| scenes are laid IN Frankfort, KY, ana
most of the persons shown are types ia
| miliar in that State. Love, politics. ana
| a forgery are treated OF in the story. Inc
| serious plot is introduced very early IN
| the play. A railroad company SENDS us
| lobbyist to Governor Lee TO secure niS
I All hot
| interests. The bill Is a dishonest one, anu
| Lee never for a moment gives II serious
| attention He absolutely refuses 10 nave
| ANYTHING TO do with II, being an honest
upright, straightforward man. Governor
| Lees secretary is an old man, Danlei rs,
| brooke. who was once In afiuence. ana
| the father OF a very beautiful girl Win
| whom the Governor Is unconsclousy III
| love. The Executives name Is Forged 10
the bill. and Esbrooke is pointed out as
| the guilty person. The discovery Is
| seyere blow TO Lee, who has always cher-
ished the old man as his friend. Arrest
| that man is the order that comes 10 MS
| Inns. but his daughter pleads for his for-
| eiyeness. Lee can hardly believe the old
| man guilty OF the crime. and though MS
| heart yearns to save him. he cannot see
| how he is TO do so. The people KNOW tIe
| bill is a steal, and II he takes the plaIhe
| OF II on his own shoulders IL VIII mean
the death-bow TO his political ambitions
| To make matters worse at this ume' theIe
| Is a legislative caucus in session 10 CON
| slider whether the Governor shall receive
| the nomination TO the United states sen
ate. The desire for political Advancement
IS strong within the Governor, and at tne
same time he wants TO shield his olu
friend This is the ground work of the
play. He finally decides to make the sac
ridce 10 his ambition, and insults the man
whom he thinks is responsible Tor the ora
mans downfall. This no does atter ne
resigns his office. The duel Is never
fought. however, for a rugged moon
skinner traces the forgery 10 the LOBBYIST
the Governors letter OF resignation mas
not been delivered. and everything ends
in a satisfactory manner. Mr.. Crane VIII
be seen as the Governor.
Mr.. Crane makes a change OF BILL on
Thursday evening, when he Will present
Miss Morton's comedy, HIS Whe
Father" The play has been one OF inc
biggest successes Mr.. Crane mas nad III
many years, and is described as being
very entertaining work. II VIII De re-
peated at the Saturday matinee. In the
presentation OF His Wife's Father MT
Crane will be seen in a character that Is
said to fit him down to the ground-that
of an old man, who proves greater
| nuisance in his own home than the most
troublesome mother-in-law that ever lived
Buchanan Billings Is the name OF this
man, and he has an only daughter. he
simply worships her. and when she mar
ries he makes the mistake OF thinking
that from then on he must De more
than ever to her. He turns his business
over TO his son-in-law. and proposes to
devote the remainder OF his life TO his
daughters happiness. He compels the
young people to live In his house, ana,
having nothing to do, he NEEDLES IN
everything. He looks upon his son-in-law
as a strange man, and forgets that no
has any claims upon the young woman
whatever. OF course, he creates trouble
lots OF it-and the result comes in the
third act, when the young man, believing
that his wife loves her father more than
she does him, runs OF to Europe. a mat
ter-of-fact widow comes forward at this
point. and points out to the old fool that
he is responsible for running his child
happiness, and, together, they set about
effecting a reconciliation. In this they
succeed, and In order to keep him out OF
further mischief The widow niarries the
old man; the final curtain falling on three
pairs of happy lovers. The lesson taught Is
taken from the Bible. and Is to the effect
that "a daughter must leave father and
mother and cling to her husband"
THE Senator" will be revived by Mr..
Crane on Friday night. In II Mr.. Crane
viii be seen In his original part OF the
western politician. Hannibal Rivers. and
he will have the support OF the leading
members Of his rather large company.
Mr.. Brooke will play the part OF the old
claimant. Silas Denman; Mr.. Arden will
be thu Count Won strahi. Miss Abbott the
Mrs. Hilary. and Mr.. Wheelock the Lieu
tenant Schuyler. The play has been seen
by so MANY that Il Is hardly necessary to
enter into an extended account Of Its
PLOT and Mr.. Cranes undeniable success
as the breezy politician.
80
J There have been numerous superb re-
yiyaIs made n New York city Rpt Wha,