HALLOWELL — The preparations are anything but glamorous — setting the stage, hanging the giant snowflakes, sweeping the floors and testing the lights.
But by the time 7:30 p.m. on Friday rolls around, the work will have laid a strong foundation for the allure, fascination and fun that is Peacox Productions and its annual “Magical Christmas” fundraiser.
Sitting in the front rows of the auditorium at the Hallowell City Hall, Bob Peabody, 62, and Andy Cox, 65, gently bicker over how long they have been at this.
Peabody: “It’s our 20th year.”
Cox: “It’s our 25th year.”
Peabody: “No, it’s whatever that anniversary is.”
Cox: “Silver. Silver anniversary, that’s the 25th.”
Peabody: “I guess you can tell that by our hair.”
For 25 years, Peacox Productions staged shows for its male/female impersonation troupe across the state, but with time and age have come some changes. Back from a brief retirement three years ago, the troupe has cut the number of shows it performs in a year from a dozen down to just a few, and some troupe members have passed away or can no longer perform.
But the siren call of the stage and of the fans still beckons.
“People kept asking us when the next show would be,” Cox said.
And so they complied. Parades, bridal shows, public performances and home parties, they have done it all.
And along the way, as the first female impersonation show to go mainstream in Maine, the pair have earned awards and recognition for their work and they have raised about $80,000 for charitable causes. For the four holiday shows this year, the Maine Children’s Home is the beneficiary.
Four shows are scheduled Dec. 4 and 5 and Dec. 11 and 12. This year, Maine humorist Gary Crocker will join the Friday shows. All shows start at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $10. To reserve a ticket or for more information, call 582-0710, or visit Facebook.com/peacoxproduction.
“The first show is more like a dress rehearsal,” Cox said. “The last night, anything goes!”
Jessica Lowell — 621-5632
Twitter: @JLowellKJ
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.