THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18927, 16 February 1927, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

"KATJA" SEASON ENDED. An audience which almost filled {he Theatre Royal from floor to ceilinj. witnessed the final performance of the Marie Burke company's presentation of the colourful production "Kaija." last night. The evasion will be a memorable one to thn«e fortunate euocjh to be present. MARIE BLRKE IN "WILDFLOWER." l.a't n.gL; the successfjl season of "Ka;ja ' was broti;l;t to a clo«e. Tonight thi! J. C. Williamson, ],td.. Musical Comvac;, headed by that brilliant artist, Miss Ala.-> Burkr. will make their appearance l:ert- in a magnificent revival of the delicious- :>■ tuneful and entertaining musical play •'•Wildflov.er," in which Miss Burke achieved :i triumph when she previously toured Xeiv Zealand. "Wildflov.er" is so charming, no appealing, so popular, and »o genuinely humorous that it attracted record audiences in Sydney mid Melbourne for over eighteen months, and it proved an outstanding Sucre's.; in this Dominion. The successes won everywhere by "YVildrlowcr" were, to a very brse extent, due to Miss Burke's irresistible characterisation of the name part, which she created i:i Australia. .So admirably docs she Sit the character that it might have been specially written for this fascinating actress. Her brilliant interpretation ef the famous "Bambalina" song and dance number is one of the features .of the opera, and it always has to be repeated at least four times at every performance. Recently the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management presented a revital of -"YVildflower" in Melbourne, intending it to run for a week, but it again scored a wonderful success, and it attracted record audiences for a month, and then had in be withdrawn in order that Miss Burke and the qompanv assisting her mi K ht fulfil the present New Zealand dates. The revival is said to rivi,l the original representation, ;:s -Mr 11. Bar.-elt-Lcnuard is said to be v.«ndeitul'\ humorous and artistic as Gadrieile, end Marie Katon most effective as Lucrezia. Charles Zo!i will again delight with his splendid characterisation of Uaston, and so will Herbert Browne as Guido. Frank Jlawthurne will appear as Luigi, nnd Noel Haiaton as Alberto. As in the original production, the work of the chorus will be a feature of the opera.