W. S. PENLEY,

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12857, 24 December 1912, Page 6

W. S. PENLEY,

Of W. S. Penley, the famous creator of the forceful character in "Charley's Aunt," who died Last month, "An Old Playgoer" writes entertainingly in the "Daily Mail." Penley, he says, was never stage-struck. ■ His success as a comedian was thrust upon him by a benignant fate. He started in a city office, but was too funny to please the grave old principals. There was far too much laughter in that office, and Penley had to leave, in order that decorum might be restored. His friends said "Go on the stage," and he got an engagement, but speedily lost it. His friends had insisted on coming to see him play, and made ■&' disturbing noise in the front row" of the stalls. After an interlude of nigger-minstrelsy ' at Margate, he tried the stage again., this time as a chorister in comic opera. He nearly lost this engagement, too, through & misunderstanding. During a. rehearsal the stage manager heard a very thin voice, proceeding from ia corner wher e stood little Penley and a very big man. After the rehearsal the manager told Penleyhe need not come any more, as his voice was not strong enough. "Will you try it?" Penley entreated. In the end it was the fet man who left. That was Penley's first step on the • theatrical 1 adder. To get his foot on the rang had been difficult, but this done the ascent was speedy. He took the part of the curate in "The Private Secretary," which Mr Beerbohm Tree had already handled without much success, and made it a thing of joy and unquenchable laughter. He studied the part seriously, said he would be a real curate for the time, and actually was one. Yet his fun never gave offence. Clergymen used to write and thank- him for the manner in which he played the part of "the Rev Roberi Spaulding, telling him that it threw no discredit in their eyes on the clergyman's calling. It is interesting to learn that later in life one of his speculations was in the "Church Family Newspaper." His "gags" became the popular catchwords of the day. In the 'eighties "D'you know?" with his peculiar falsetto intonation, was heard everywhere. Penley's fun was as irresistible off the stage as on it.. Onco when he jumped into a crowed carriage at Euston" the rjassengers offered to make room for him. "Oh, thanks, don't trouble. I'm only going to Scotland," was his quiet, droll retort. Probably the last one to 'believe in the success of his plays was Penley himself. He even agreed to give a half share of the. profits of "Charley's Aunt" to a friend in return for an investment of £800. The luekv investor cleared £30,000.