MISS MARIE BURKE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18403, 9 June 1925, Page 2

MISS MARIE BURKE.

A CHARMING PERSONALITY,

Miss Marie Burke, the star of the Williamson Musical Comedy Company, which is at present in Christchurch, is as charming a personality off the stage as on it. She chats of a great variety of subjects, and besides being an admirer of the arts is fond of an out-door life. Yesterday a representative of ."The Press" had a pleasant interview with her. Before coming. to Australia and the Dominion, Miss Burke played in England and America. She left England to •appear in vaudeville in South Africa and on coming to Australia in August last was seen in vaudeville before joining up with the present company. She played in "Wildflower" in' Sydney for 23 weeks and altogeiher. was before the public in, that city for 35 weeks; "I was there so long," she said, "that I thought.the public might.tire of me, but, fortunately, such was not the case." As an instance of the popularity of "Wildflower" in Sydney, Miss Burke stated a number of people saw it produced 20 or 30 times. When it was withdrawn to make way fpr,another company, "Wildflower" had run for a longer period in' Sydney than any other piece with the exception of "Sally." It made such an appeal to the public that when the announcement was made that it was, to. be. with-, drawn, people waited outside the booking office to secure seats, from three o'clock the previous • day.

Prior'to appearing in a company, Miss Burke sang for four years on the concert platform, to prepare her for which'she studied in Italy.for a con-, siderable time. "Since then I have appeared in all classes of entertainment,!'., she said, "except a circus. Ido not like tho concert platform, myself. It appears to me to be so cold and uninspiring. There are generally one or two pots of ferns behind you, and. you sing first a group of perhaps, Italian songs, then German, then some French chansonettes and finish with'some, popular ballads. I always feel a trifle . nervous when appearing before; an audience on such occasions. I- would far, far, rather sing in a. part Avith a. proper setting, because it enables one to.express oneself so much better." ' "I admire golf," said Miss Burke,, when asked;if she- indulged in that form of sport, "but my acquaintance; with it is a short one k , as I Have only taken it up within the past 12 months.'; ;I find it very trying at.times though. You see, one might go put to the links' intending to pipy a, really, good game, address the ball properly arid then: drive it—five j ards. ; "It is. certainly exasperating." : V. . "■•■, ' x '" Miss Burke does not beheve m what, are known' as national types of girls.\ A typical English, girl, she says, is looked on as being iall, slim, fair 7 ljairod, and description that might just as. easily apply to a German or a Swedish girl. People who saw Miss Burkein the role of Nina Benedetto in "Wildflower" thought how well looked in it, her demeanour and appearance being truly Italian. Miss Burke has often been described as an Irish girl. As a matter of fact, she is English, with Latin blood in her veins. Passion and bad; qualities are ascribed to. certain races, she says., while other races are held up as possessing only the highest attri-* butes. The position is, of course, that good and bad are found among, all nations of the earth. •> According to Miss Bwke, the donkey which plays an important part in "Wildflower" is| ( contrary to all .preconceived -opinions with respect to such animals, .. an intelligent beast, "jenny knows her musical cues as well, as any other member of the company," say's the actress, "and is able to make her entry and exeunt when required without • being guided with reins. She also has a sense of humour and if the audience are inclined to > be blase she will yawn at them." Jenny is very'fond' of apples and. is> always rewarde*d .by JMiss Burke with the apple.which is plucked from'tlhe tree in the first, act of "Wildflower." Should Miss Burke forget to take no- ' tice of her as described, Jenny soon reminds her of the omission, and if the offering is. not forthcoming; will follow i her about until it, is, even on to the stage itself. Jenny does her work so well and is so much at.ihome on the boards that it might be thought that she was born in- a theatrical atmosphere, but, so far as is. known, there have been no histrionic proclivities in any of her forebears, although it is started that she bears some relationship to-.the. ass which was 'seen in one of Oscar Asche's productions.