MUSICAL COMEDY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18919, 7 February 1927, Page 7

MUSICAL COMEDY.

MARIE BURKE IN "KATJA." At The Bristol, this morning, the box plans will bo opened at 'J o'clock for tho six evening representations of "Katja," which will mark tho reappearance here, at tho Theatre Royal, on Wednesday night next, of the delightful comic opera artist Miss Marie Burke, who, it will bo remembered, was responsible for tho wonderful success won by "Wildflower" when It wag staged hero eighteen months ago. Tho Jnrgo atunber of applications which have been made, for seats for the opening performance is a clear indication that playgoers are anxious to give Miss Burke a warm welcome, and it will signalise her first apnearanco hero sineo sho suffered so badly in tho tcrriblo Quccnslund railway catastrophe last year. Tho opening performance will mark tho debut hero of tho famous young London comedian, Mr R. Barrctt-Lennard, Mr Noel Dam-, ton, a noted English actor, and the delightful English soubrctto and dancer, Miss Babctto Odeal; also the reappcaranco of Cecil Kellawav, Thclma Burness, Herbert Browne, Frank Hawthorne, Charles Zoti, and other-well-known artists. The story of "Katja unfolds an intensely interesting aud romantic plot, which, put briefly, is as follows: Katja (Mario Burke) and her partner (Noel Dainton), rto «ro saining » livins by ttac.r dancing, arc really a deposed Prince an-I Princess. At a party given by Oount Orpitch (Cecil Kcllaway) they meet Prince Carl of Karuja, who, although incognito, is recognised bv Ivo as tho Prince who is enjoying tho position the two dancers should have had bv right. The position is mado exciting when Katja falls in love with the Üburper. An attempt by Ivo, who assumes tho disguise of a waiter, to drug thn Prince in order that he might be carried off, is foiled by Katja, who tells all about tho conspiracy. In this, scene Marie Burke rises to great heights in dramatic genius. Tho emotions of the temperamental Katja, torn between devotion to the cause and unwilling love, give Miss Burke an opportunity for fine acting, in the courso of which her dark beauty is revealed to its advantage. An effective foil to their dramatic srenes is provided by tho deliciously ridiculous affairs of Pat Orpitch (Thclma Burness) and Leander Billdroff (Barrett-l.<-nnard). a pair of star-crossed lovers, who provide some of the happiest moments of the production. Miss Babcttc Odcal's dancing created a furore of enthusiasm in Sydney recently. The production is staged under the personal supervision of Mr Charles A. Wen man. Owing to the brevity of tho season, only fix evening performances can be staged of "Katja," and a special afternoon representation will be given on Saturday next. "Wildflower" will be revived on Wednesday, Feb-' ruary 16th, and the two following evenings, and on Saturday, February 19th, and two following evenings the company will produce, for the first time on any Australian or New. Zealand stage. Front Lcbar's wonderfully successful and beautiful comic opera, "Frssquita," which, after the present Dominion tour, will be staged ia Sydney, , ~ ..■Wlftfc - ■ ■