Percy Cahill (born Edgar Percy Cahill) was a comic actor, singer and dancer and toured all over the UK. He also went on tour to Ireland, South Africa, Australia and the USA.He was the son of John Cahill of Abbey Gardens and brother-in-law of Edward Reuben Morgan, chimney sweep of Violet Hill. He made his first appearance on stage in Harlequinade with his father, and at 14 he played ‘Harlequin’. He was often praised for his performances and appears to have been popular with audiences and became the Principal Comedian in his later productions. He worked for all the principal companies – George Dance , George Edwardes, C.B. Cochran, Seymour Hicks, MacDonald and Young, Moreton and Heath and T.C Wray.
Some of the roles he played were
- Simon – Boscart in Katja
- Marks in Topsy and Eva – Gaiety, London
- Ah Song in The Yellow Mask
- Jimmy Nunn in The Good Companions
- Pomerol in The Ball at the Savoy
- Lunatic in Belle of New York
- Floot in the Sunshine Girl
- Joe Mivens in The Dairymaids
- Peter Doody in The Arcadians
- Widdicombe in The Dancing Mistress
- Nico in Tina
- Simon Slinks in Miss Hook of Holland
- Moolraj in The Blue Moon
- Pettifer in The Toreador
- Zaccary in The Orchid
- Bill Stratford in Lady Madcap
- Mr Pineapple in A Chinese Honeymoon
- Dr. Thorne in High Jinks
- Sam Snuffle
- Mrs Crusoe and Billy Crusoe in different productions of Robinson Crusoe
- The Dame and the Baron in productions of Babes in the Wood
- Wishee Washee and the Vizier in productions of Aladdin
- The Dame in Puss in Boots
- Trotters, Johnny Stout, Simple Simon in Red Riding Hood productions
- Peeping Tom in Goody Two Shoes
- Idle Jack in Dick Whittington
- Baroness and Page in different productions of Cinderella
- Jack Goose in Mother Goose
- Ben in Sinbad
- Izzy in Young England
Percy injured himself (ruptured a vessel) in 1918 whilst dancing in his role as Bert in ‘The Better Ole’. In 1928 he was in Charing Cross Hospital for over 24 weeks during which time he had 3 serious operations. He was under contract at that time with Jack Buchanan to appear at the Gaiety in ‘Topsy and Eva’. They assured him that as soon as he was able to take up the part he would be welcomed back.
Percy went on tour in South Africa in 1905, 1922 -1923 and Australia in 1919 playing these parts:-Sergeant Bleary in ‘A Change of Tactics’ (with G P Huntley) at the London Coliseum and on tourBert in ‘The better ‘Ole or The Romance of Old Bill’ (C B Cochran’s Co) – March and April at The Tivoli Theatre, produced by Arnold Bell and at Adelaide, South Australia and 1922-1923 – Ben in Robinson Crusoe –H M Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa
Percy Cahill was a member of the British Actors’ Equity Association. The association was based at Imperial Buildings, 56, Kingsway, London, WC2. Percy’s membership number was 5773. On 29th February 1948, aged 77, he was granted an Honourable Withdrawal having paid all his dues. His card entitled him to a remission of subscriptions while he remained away from the theatre and did no film, broadcasting or television work for at least 12 months. He worked until 1944 and was praised for his liveliness as ‘Jimmy’ in 1943, aged 72, a role that he also performed in 1944.
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