Two non-stop summer weeks in the Berkshires
From left, Rocco Sisto, Olympia Dukakis and Kristin Wold in a scene from the 2012 production of "The Tempest" by Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, Mass. Photo by Kevin Sprague, courtesy of Shakespeare & Co.
By Shera Cohen
www.inthespotlightinc.org
Many ask me about my annual Berkshire vacation.
"What kind of a rest is that? You go to all these places, sit in the dark and take notes, then have to write about each [performance]; that's work," is the general consensus from friends and acquaintances.
My answer to them is, "This is the perfect vacation, it's work that I love, so I combine the arts with work for the best of all worlds."
I think 2012 was my 18th summer of vacationing in the Berkshires, and many PRIME readers are familiar with this year-later past tense story of my journeys. At the same time, there is so much to look forward to in the summer of 2013 (see story below for highlights of the 2013 season). You don't have to be a big crazy like I and my companions – spending a whirlwind two weeks to take in the arts – I urge you to choose where you would like to go. Try experimenting with fringe theatre when the classics are your forte, jazz in addition to Mozart, a flower museum along with paintings.
Two factors were unique to last summer's venues and their productions: special anniversary years and world premieres. It was an honor to participate in historic moments in the arts.
My first week with the arts
I've listed our arts adventure in the order of the preformaces we attended.
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Berkshire Theatre Group, Stockbridge: "A Class Act." Once separate venues, the two theatres in Stockbridge (the Main Stage and Unicorn) have joined with the beautiful and lush Colonial Theater in Pittsfield to become the Berkshire Theatre Group. We started our vacation with a musical about musicals – a fictionalized true story about the making of "A Chorus Line."
Jacob's Pillow, Becket: The Men Dancers: from the Horse's Mouth. Matinees at the Pillow permit audiences to see more than the superbly talented dancers on its two stages. The grounds are manicured and flower-filled; the barn is an art gallery; and the outdoor stage highlights the work of young dancers. This show marked the 80th anniversary of the site's founding by Springfield's own Ted Shawn. His male dancers christened the Pillow, and this performance uniquely paid homage to its history as 20 men dancers, of all ages and backgrounds, told poetic stories of trials and successes about becoming dancers. Part documentary, part performance, this was dance at its most accessible.
Tanglewood, Lenox: 75th Anniversary Concert. I could write reams about this fabulous and memorable occasion. On this night alone were five conductors (including John Williams), plus the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), the BSO Pops, Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax, James Taylor, and more. The composers were a who's who, including Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Tchaikovsky, Ravel and Beethoven. Puffy pink clouds filled the sky and bug-resistant lanterns aligned the lawn. This was my first on-the-lawn concert – a different experience from Shed seats, but very nice with a sense of camaraderie among the music lovers. I can never get my fill of Tanglewood or John Williams, so I had the pleasure of "attending" his 80th birthday concert on another week. Most of the program was filled with Williams' music, of course, including his own symphonic rendition of "Happy Birthday." What a night!
The Mount Lectures, Lenox: Clover Adams. The lecture series at the Mount make for excellent Monday afternoons complete with guest authors, fascinating topics, and the best scones (an English tea tops off the program) in New England. Oftentimes, I am unfamiliar with either the author or the subject, but that doesn't matter in making the discussion interesting. In this case, I had never heard of Clover Adams, a famous photographer during the Gilded Age. Make a reservation; the house is always packed for these talks.
Mahaiwe, Great Barrington: Friars Club Comedy Festival. For a change of pace, five top comedians from the Borscht Belt entertained for their mature audience. The show was billed as "Stand up comedy as a true American art form." Peppered with Jewish humor, it is safe to say that the entire audience laughed a lot. Whatever the show at Mahaiwe, take a close look at this 100-plus-year-old elegant site.
Cranwell Inn, Lenox: Capitol Steps. I write pretty much the same about this riotous show each summer. Nothing changes, except the entire script – which changes as quickly as the front-page news. Since 2012 was an election year, there was so much material to choose from to set humorously to music. Whoever happens to be the President at the time seems to get the brunt of the digs. What one might not expect is that these comedians actually have terrific voices.
Shakespeare & Company, Lenox: Author Series. This program is something relatively new at this venue. It calls for getting up early on Sunday morning, but it was worth it to hear the humorous Simon Winchester, journalist turned world traveler/author who credited his success to "incredible luck."
Shakespeare & Company: "The Endurance." As far as I know, this venue's hosting of another theatre troupe was a first. The four-man Split Knuckle Theatre should definitely be invited back. They write, direct, and produce original material. "Endurance" was based on the amazing Shackleton saga of leadership par excellence, yet updated and placed in an office setting. The play was dramatic, funny, and clever as the quartet took on numerous roles, scary pratfalls, and lessons to be learned.
Chester Theatre, Chester: "The Swan." As I suggested earlier, oftentimes it's good and even eye opening to see something new and perhaps avante garde. And sometimes, you can appreciate the acting talents while still trying to figure out the script. This was "The Swan."
Clark Museum, Williamstown: "Unearthed." Renowned for its Impressionist exhibits, the museum's highlight was "Unearthed," which displayed ruins from the museum founder's tour of China in 1908. Truly amazing was the intricacy of complete statues and structures dating back to 386 CE. Clark also hosts numerous concerts in the evening.
Third Thursday in Pittsfield. From May through October, take a walk with the thousands of others in the center of town to hear music on every third street corner, watch kids' activities, buy homegrown veggies, and see antique autos lining the perimeter.
Barrington Stage, Pittsfield: "All My Sons." Just when you think you really don't need to see another production of Arthur Miller's classic, you discover that you are wrong. Everything was exactly right about this show, especially the actors and the set.
My second Berkshire week
Shakespeare & Company, Lenox: "The Tempest." Shakespeare purists might not have liked the casting of a woman in the lead role of Duke Prospero (Duchess Prospera), but actress Olympia Dukakis – along with some of Shakespere & Co.'s finest actors – brought the play to life. Coupled with a fabulous tropical island set, haunting music, and ethereal costumes, "The Tempest" proved that this theatre is at the top of the list in producing the Bard.
Tanglewood, Rehearsal. I had never heard of composer Manuel de Falla whose opera, "La Vide Breve" was the subject for rehearsal by the BSO. Oftentimes during rehearsals the musicians start, stop, and repeat per the instructions of the conductor. This rehearsal, however, was nearly straight through, as if attending the "real" concert. I must mention that torrents of rain fell on another week's Saturday morning rehearsal earlier in the season. Yet, thunder, lightning, and winds rarely deter Tanglewoo/d audiences.
Shakespeare & Company: "Cassandra Speaks." By now, you might have guessed that Shakespeare & Co. is my favorite place in the Berkshires. So, not unlike Tanglewood, I could go on and on with praises. I will spare you, but to say that this venue also produces contemporary works, such as "Cassandra."
Berkshire Choral Festival (BCF), Sheffield, Mass.: Evening of Grand Opera. I am betting that a lot of readers don't realize that the Springfield Symphony Orchestra is the "back up band" to the hundreds of singers from throughout the world who participate in BCF's joyous four-concert series. On this evening of opera, 110 voices melded together performing pieces by Bizet, Puccini, and Verdi. You can't ask for more famous composers. Of note is BCF's venue; the large tent is now an indoor site. No more mosquitos to interfere with the lovely sounds.
Shakespeare & Company, director's talk.It was advantageous to have seen "The Tempest" before listening to director Tony Simotes' discussion. These talks are open, with an opportunity to ask questions of those behind the scenes and the actors – always enlightening.
Lee Outlets: The "girls" and I just had to shop. With the Outlets five minutes from where we stay, the lure of bargains is magical.
The Mount Lectures: Hadley Richardson. Another trip to the Mount was for a sprightly discussion about Ernest Hemingway and his first wife. Her biographer asked the audience – why are we so curious about the famous? Good question then, and certainly now.
Berkshire Museum's Little Cinema: "Take This Waltz." Every week from June through August, Berkshire Museum hosts a different, contemporary, independent or foreign film in their spacious and air-conditioned theatre. Admission is only $5.
Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge: "Exploring Howard Pyle." I always think that I'll skip the Rockwell, yet go back each time. Rockwell's illustrations and paintings tell stories, oftentimes stories that are worth hearing over and over. Also, there's always a touring exhibit. "Exploring Howard Pyle" included works that were pictures straight out of "Pirates of the Caribbean." Pyle was dubbed "The rock star illustrator of the 19th century." I must add, never underestimate the difference that a good tour guide makes. Rockwell has the best.
Barrington Stage Company: "The North Pool." I sometimes go to world premieres, not to mention those with only two actors, and expect little. This, however, was a powerful, taut drama of wits between a young man (student) and older man (high school administrator) about bigotry, jealousy, guilt, and the death of a student. The text actively challenged the audience's assumptions in what were chilling performances by the actors. A much-involved talk back followed.
Town of West Stockbridge boutiques: This was a different kind of shopping from the Outlets; quaint, as if going to a small arts festival.
The Mount: "Wharton at 5" reading. Reminiscent of a 19th century "proper" way to spend a late afternoon, chairs and small tables fill the outdoor setting overlooking the gardens as actors read aloud one or two of Wharton short stories. Sip some wine. All that's missing are the white gloves.
Shakespeare & Company: "King Lear." One of the Bard's most well known pieces took the Main Stage for the bulk of last summer's season. We stayed for the talk back, at which we learned that such a difficult play was given only three weeks of rehearsal.
The Wharton Salon, Lenox: "The Inner House." Kudos to this one-woman play portraying Edith Wharton; it was the best of the Salon's presentations for this young theatre troupe – "young" being only four years. The one-act play offered a close look into Wharton's personal life. The Salon mounts one play each season, and I look forward to the next one.
Shakespeare & Company: "Tartuffe." You got it … I love this place, especially their rambunctious colorful period-set comedies. Moliere takes the number two spot on my favorite playwright list, so how could I go wrong in seeing "Tartuffe"?
Berkshire Theatre Group: "Edith." We ended our vacation where we started, with the world premiere of "Edith." No, not Edith Wharton, but Edith Wilson, wife of Woodrow, an intelligent, single-minded, loving woman who, for a time, essentially became pseudo-President of the United States. Enthralled by this play, production, and its actors, I returned later in its run to see it once more. Yes, it was that good.
For summer 2013, we will repeat many of the offerings of these venues, and add a few more – perhaps the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Guthrie Center, Berkshire Museum, Chesterwood. Unfortunately, even I can't fit everything in in two weeks.
