TO-NIGHT’S BENEFIT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 408, 6 May 1902, Page 3

TO-NIGHT’S BENEFIT.

IN TOWN,” Every play-goer knows Mr W. Percy. His stature is small, but lie lias an imperial greatness when it comes to laugh-making, In size he is the Napoleon of Komedy in New Zealand, but people flee not from him; lie is an irresistible magnet, and to see him in his comedy parts is to be sure of a hearty laugh. He was in town last night, and a Times representative toes the apportunity to have a chat with liimj To-night he is to be ,“ In Town ” again, as he says, "ill the disguise of a gentleman.” But though he may play at the gentleman oh the stage, he was never known to be othe wise off it; he is one of the Sty mg sort, and is liked on the stage, behind the stage, and off it. .Mr Percy, our representative learned, fust came to Gisborne in August of Idfll, the Pollard’s then being a company of juveniles. Then he was the Pirate King, the "admired of all our boys, Those were the days of small things, he explained, but certainly the gentle Percy was a ferocious looking pirate. My first comedy part was in “ Aladdin,” he replied. ■‘‘And the part you like best ?” “Is ‘ In Town,”-'where I am disguised as a gentleman.” lu the course' of UM? play the comed’an gives some lightning sketches of New Zealand’s King Richard, of Mr Chamberlain, of Timi Kara (our own ■James), and if the audience desire it they can have a glimpse of Kruger. Questioned as to whether he had not in Auckland tried to beat the Hon. James as a speaker, Mr Percy said he might have tried, but wouldn’t have guaranteed -any likeness in that respect.

“ But you did fuake a big ,tbey sa'id/’ “ They may say so, but I cannot .tel: what I staid. I never knew I had • so many friends; perhaps they thought' because I am > about to be ~Siaiiied, it was time to come forward and show their sympathy,” said JVIr Percy with a twinkle in his eye. The facts of the affair were that a united call came from the audience for Percy 4 He was seized by his comrades from behind the scenes, carried to the front, and before he knew he was before the audience, who greeted • him with enthusiastic and prolonged cheering. “ They completely paralysed me,” he says; “it was no laughing matter that time. I tried to | express my. gratitude, but was too overwhelmed to say much.” Mr Percy’s chief hobbies are drawing and designing posters, and he has been ! doing good work at both. Lately he has - done some posters for Wellington firms ;' one of them was reproduced in England, where it was much praised. Jri connection with his work in the {artistic line, Mr Percy has been 'taking hints from the carving by the Maoris, and before he leaves Gisborne he hopes to-get a few suggestions in that direction. - The company contains numerous “ camera fiends,” of whom Mr Percy is one. He is also a cyclist, and one of the comedies of his life was when he essayed to ride through from Gisborne to Auckland on his bicycle. He soon found out that the supposed roads between Gisborne and Auckland were not all asphalted wheel tracks. A He then gave up the attempt, went on f to Napier by steamer, and from there rode through to Auckiand via Taupo. I On his bicycle lie has ridden over the J" colony from Auckland to the Bluff, crossing the Straits in the Waihi, of ? which vessel he has fond memories of i days when he might have caused a | laugh—at him, not with him. I Lie is delighted with Gisborne and -t its people. “ 1 shall always feel that * I am coming among friends,” he said, | “ when the Turanganui river is reach's ed. I hope some day to have a ride i on your railway, but it does not seem as if it will knock the bicycle out for (a Week or two yet. I hear you have got a new dredge that so far lias been making a bigger hole in the Harbor p Board fields than in the river ; also, ■* that you have got a fine water supply 4 —in the clouds ! Yes, I always enjoy a visit to Gisborne, which is one of- the prettiest places along the line„ and where-the people all 'seem a good sert—that is my experience of them anyway. They can enjoy a good joke and appreciate one’s efforts to please.” Mr- - Percy is a hard worker at his profession. • Things that may seem easy are only accomplished after diligent practice. " He lias achieved much popularity as a pomedjan, and hopes in the near future to make a subst'anH- , tiai success of the poster work, on which he has set his mind. He was horn in Melbourne, but is practically a Maorilander* m >Hrj ,The audience to-night should give the comedian a rally—of course ry. 1 1 small scalo-on t!;v v-i ‘agivsm feta in