MARIE BURKE IN "KATJA."

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 17, 21 January 1927, Page 5

MARIE BURKE IN "KATJA."

, There was a very large demand for seats for the approaching season of the latest J. C. Williamson Comic Opera success "Katja," which, is to be staged at the Grand Opera House on Monday night next by Miss Marie Burke and a powerful company of musical comedy and comic opera artists. Monday night will signalise the debut here of Mr. R. Barnett-Lennard, one of London's foremost comedians, and the first appearance of Miss Babette Odeal, a delightful English soubrette and dancer, and Mr. Noel Dainton, a notable London artiste The occasion -will also mark the reappearance here of Mr. Cecil Kellaway, Thelma Burness,. Charles Zoli, Mr. Frank Hawthorne, Mr. Frank Leighton, and other well-known artists. The story of "Katja" unfolds an" intensely interesting and romantic plot, which, put briefly, is as follows:—Katja and her partner, who are gaining a living by their dancing, are really a deposed prince and princess. At a party given by.Count Orpitch they meet Prince Carl of Karuja, who, although incognito, is recognised by Ivo as the prince who is enjoying the position the two dancers should have had by right. The position is made exciting when Katja falls in love with the usurper. An attempt by Ivo, who assumes the disguise of a waiter, to drug the prince in order that he might be carried off, is failed by Katja, who tells all about the conspiracy. In this scene Marie Burke rises to great heights in dramatic genius. The emotions of the temperamental Katja, torn between devotion to the cause and unwilling love, give Miss Burke an opportunity for fine acting. Miss Babette Odeal's dancing created a furore of enthusiasm in Sydney recently. Only a limited number of performances can be staged of "Katja," and during a brief season the c -npany will stage a revival of "Wildflower," in which Miss Marie Burke created a furore of enthusiasm when she previously appeared here.