He is a master of the dramatic paws.
So what better than claiming a cameo role in a Dunedin play. Willy, an 18-month-old black cat, turned up at the Playhouse Theatre a month ago, on the day auditions were called for the latest Dunedin Repertory Society production, The Snow Queen.
He soon became such a fixture at the theatre he had to be included in the play.
''He comes in every day when we're rehearsing and wanders around and underneath the stage. We were having to ad lib around him, so we thought we'd better write him a part in the play,'' repertory member Jill Moore said yesterday.
''Everyone thinks he's gorgeous. He always sits on the same old chair in the green room. He thinks it's been put there for him; just like a movie star.''
While there are no guarantees Willy will keep to his side of the contract, the play's cast enjoys working with their leading feline.
''He's fantastic. He's so cute,'' Alice Houston-Page (11) said.
''Everyone loves cats.''
Willy's flatmate, Kitty Higbee, said she could only think of one reason why he was so drawn to the Playhouse boards.
''I think he might have ambitions,'' she joked.
''It's his favourite place. Every day I feed him nice cat food and he wanders through the traffic across George St to the Playhouse. I can't keep him away from there.''
Willy and The Snow Queen are on at the Playhouse Theatre from April 20 to 28.
