MR WILL,S PERCY.

Otago Witness, Volume 26, Issue 2419, 26 July 1900, Page 51

MR WILL,S PERCY.

(See photos in Illustrated Supplement.) /■ It was not with any feelings of embarrass- » ment that the writer called upon Will l?ercy, the clever young comedian of the Pollard Opera Company, to learn something of his career on and off the stage. Found Perc. (as all his friends familiarly and affectionately call him) busy painting — his favourite occupation when off duty. " Am afraid I have dropped in at an awkward time ? Not at all. Tuck your toes in and make yourself at home.

Yes, I am a native of Victoria; was bom at Port Melbourne in July, 1876. I joined the, present company in Melbourne in June, - 1831, and am one of the' original members. No; I have never done anything very . desperate in my life. * Have never even stopped traffic, except when I fell off my bike under the wheels of a cab. That happened on more than one occasion, but there were no gold medals sticking out iEor that. Oh, about myself? Well, I made my first appearance on any stage in this very town, Dunedin, July, 1891, as th-j ''Pirate King ' in ■ " The_ Pirates of Penzarce." My "first appearance was a very dismal affair. I remember walking" up and down Princes street before we opened thinking I -was going to " knock them." But I didn't. When I made my entrance the sword got between my legs and tripped me up, my hat fell off, and I wished the trapejoar to open and drop me put of the world. That entrance knocked all the pride out of me, and I have never been troubled with swelled head since. If Ido feel inclined to. become "a little elevaled at my success I think of -my first appearance" in the Princes Theatre' in this city; then the balloon bursts. That failure > only spurred me on to further efforts, and I made up my mind to show Dunedin that I could play something more than dead men" on battlefields. However, when I came back to this city, two years later, I had a part to play that suited me, that of Aladdin. Yes, I look upon Dunedin as my theatrical birthplace. When the company left this city in 1891, we played in nearly every town in Australasia. A pretty rough time? Rather. Plenty of hard work, but we are reaping the benefit of it now. Prior to Miss "Maud Beatty coming to the. front I played all the baritone parts. ' It^was not for some time after that I got a chance in comedy. Of "course, as well as acting I have been taught ev,ery branch of the theatrical business. If I did not to out a star it was. not for want of teaching. My favourite pastime was scene-painting. In fact so strong a hold did it get -upon rue that I thought at one time of giving up the stage and devoting my time^to painting. I have to thank Mr Pollard for giving me an opportunity to study scene-painting and for purchasing me books on the subject. JTo, there is no chance of my head swelling with Mr Pollard at my back.' To dear old G-rattan Riggs (God rest his soul) I owe a debt of gratitude. Mr Harrison, who died in Dunedin last year, was also very kind to nie — much kinder than I deserved. .-I could keep you here all day telling you of the friendly aid I have received at the hands of members of the Pollard Opera Company. I have- played about 50 parts in the different operas and musical comedies since joining the profession. Of those, I have created about 35. Captain Coddington in "In Town " ? Oh, yes, I like it — think it' is one of my best. Saw George Lauri play it in this very town. Do I copy him? No, not consciously. I try to strike out for myself. One of my pleasures off the stage is the bike. I have ridden over 3000 aniles in New Zealand, from Auckland to the Bluff, barring, of course, Cook Strait, and I would have struggled with that if I could. On one occasion my bike broke down and I had to get a Horse and ride 22 miles. Arrived in town just in time for the show. I had never xidden a horse before, so was compelled to stay in bed' for two days after. About the iuture? That is a blank. I mean to work- very luird, and hope some day to deserve all ihe kind things that have been said about me.