40-2,p22

A Foolproof Funny Act

By Russ Kaufman

The act of Rob and Linda Peck, known collectively as "Foolsproof Follies," includes a diversified repertoire of skills. They do an excellent job of combining juggling, wire-walking and visual skills with an ample dose of witty quips and good-natured bickering. The Pecks (known on stage as "Peck and Henpeck") have been performing regularly in New England and New York, but were recently the featured performers at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science.

Before that show started, the audience noticed the latest addition to their show

a tightrope rig that was about as long as the stage itself. The Pecks purchased it about a year ago so Linda could do more difficult wire - walking tricks than she had been able to do with the slack rope she formerly used (with the aid of eight or ten able-bodied men who held it for her!).

The show started with a lively big band number. Linda, wearing a bright yellow dress and black tights, juggled four colored scarves. Rob followed, clothed in a purple, red and black Harlequin costume, and did some hat manipulation. He then did a humorous three ball routine using a baseball theme. Linda followed with a parasol on which she rolled a ring and a Nerf ball. She ended by balancing the opened parasol on her head.

Rob used a warped tennis racket as a devil stick and took off into the audience. After the show, he said, "We both enjoy using a lot of props in our show that the audience can relate to more directly. We think the audience generally appreciates seeing things they know rather than specialized juggling props."

Linda then got on the wire with a parasol in both hands, walked forward and backward, and gradually did a split to sit down on the wire. As she walked it, Rob, clad in a tutu, scooted cross the stage on a unicycle using a closed parasol as a devil stick. He ended by crashing off stage.

The tutu concept was a takeoff on the traditional, somewhat sexist shows, where the audience is used to seeing a lovely female assistant who hands the male star his props.