Making the most of my Berkshires summer vacation

June 2012 By Shera Cohen Special to PRIME No, this is not the same article that I wrote last year or the 16 years before that. And, yes, the places that I visit remain essentially the same. The reason? Why mess with perfection? Keep reading please. Summer months in the Berkshires are synonymous with the best in performing and visual arts in New England — perhaps in the United States. We are extremely fortunate to live close by. In my case, I live really close by, spending two weeks in Stockbridge. It's a place of beauty, culture, variety, and tourists (like me). Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield Ever since its move to Pittsfield, the work of Barrington Stage Company (BSC) has gotten better and better. Undoubtedly, that will continue this summer. Along with its two venues, is a youth theater where aspiring actors perform for children and adults. BSC is becoming "the" venue to kick-off the plays of Mark St. Germain. Never heard of him? You will. Author of "Freud's Last Session" of BSC's 2009 and 2010 season, he also wrote the powerful drama, "The Best of Enemies." Both plays were based on historic facts. BSC is one of the few theaters that dare to present some tough drama in the summer. Obviously, audiences accept the challenge of serious, actual events. For more information, visit www.barringtonstageco.org. Berkshire Fringe, Great Barrington Berkshire Fringe (BF) bills itself as "outrageously original" and is. Founded by three 20-somethings, last summer's roster included 50 theater, dance, and music events by 100 young artists, on three stages. Workshops, artist talkbacks, and freebies make for a lot of talent in one place in 18 days, with at least two performances on each date. "The Erotics of Doubt," a series of theatre vignettes, was so modern that makes the word "modern" seem old, if that's possible. With live and canned music and odd props (a toilet), BF lives up to its name — on the fringe of arts to create their own new arts. For more information, visit, www.berkshirefringe.org. Berkshire Museum/Little Cinema, Pittsfield Three summers ago, the main exhibit was frogs. Mummies took the stage two years ago. Last year it was geckos. I really can't say that I like reptiles up close and personal, but I might have been the only one. Kids and adults loved these little slimy guys. A Berkshire "must" is the museum's gorgeous aquarium. The major summer exhibits run from early June through mid-September. On the first floor is Little Cinema where, each week, a different independent or foreign film is featured. For more information, visit www.berkshiremuseum.org. Berkshire Theatre Festival, Stockbridge Berkshire Theatre Festival (BTF) is a conglomeration, having coupled its Mainstage and Unicorn venues with Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. BTF is called a "festival" because it is a celebration of theatre arts which includes tried and true drama and comedy and musicals, experimentation, premiers, and youth productions. "Sylvia," A.R. Gurney's comedy about man's best friend was a hoot, not because dogs are necessarily humorous creatures, but because of casting a beautiful shaggy-haired actress in the role. Tennessee Williams' "Period of Adjustment" provided a relationship piece about post-Korean War buddies. Compelling characters are synonymous with Williams, and this play was no exception. For more information, visit www.berkshiretheatre.org. Capitol Steps, Cranwell, Lenox It's difficult to write a new review about Capitol Steps (CS) each year — that's a good thing. The revue is continuous laughter about contemporary issues. The CS parodies are not unlike that of Jon Stewart, and are primarily in song (newsy lyrics put to the beat of familiar music). The songs are edgy, risqu , and hilarious. This, being an election year, will provide more than enough material so that no candidate will be left unscathed. I will eagerly return. For more information, visit www.cranwell.com. The Mount, Lenox Edith Wharton's home has become a place of lectures, gardens, estate tours, readings, exhibits, and theater. The Mount's barn theater is open Mondays for its Afternoon Lecture Series. Talks by biographers are insightful and entertaining. The grandson of Oscar Hammerstein ("Sound of Music," "Showboat") spoke to a full house about his musical family's highs and lows. For those who want to step back a century and feel a bit highbrow (minus the gloves), there's Wharton on Wednesdays' tea and readings on the lovely porch overlooking European-style gardens. For more information, visit www.edithwharton.org. Ventfort, Lenox Ventfort is more than someone's old home with stained glass windows turned museum — it is all of that plus a lovely porch and beautiful gardens. There is also a small theater, featuring one-person plays about historic figures. "Open Marriage — Renegade Wife of the Gilden Age," about the life of turn of the 20th century radical thinker Elsie Clews Parsons, was staged in the intimate setting of the library with cabaret seating and audience participation. The actress utilized every nook and cranny of the room to tell her story of sociological and economical mores of the times with the focus on the character's open marriage — well before that term was ever termed. While at Ventfort, a tour of this old home is an additional feature. For more information, visit www.gildedage.org . I also look forward to adding the following to this summer's calendar. For websites on each, visit www.inthespotlightinc.org .

• Aston Magna, Great Barrington: Chamber music at its best, starting June.
• Berkshire Choral Festival, Sheffield: Listen to the Springfield Symphony and hundreds of singers.
• Berkshire Jewish Film Festival, multiple locations: You don't have to be Jewish to appreciate good film.
• Berkshire Playwrights Lab, Great Barrington: In its 5th season, Mahaiwe hosts staged readings of new plays on four dates.
• Chesterwood, Stockbridge: Tour indoor and outdoor sculpture pieces — the centuries old side-by-side with contemporary work.
• Clark Art Institute, Williamstown: This iconic museum presents the best in world-renowned art of all ages and for all ages.
• Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield: This lush old theatre presents excellent performing arts experiences of several genres.
• Mahaiwe, Great Barrington: An elegant and ornate renovated theatre in the heart of town that presents theatre, music, and dance, and sometime all at once.
• Mass MoCA, North Adams: Big, contemporary, odd, colorful visual art in an old factory.
• Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown: Great art at a on a lovely college campus for free.

Walk the Berkshires Streets

• Downtown Street Art, North Adams: Worth exploring is a city-wide celebration of local and unique art of all genres in radius.
• First Fridays ArtsWalk, Pittsfield: New this summer, the Upstreet Cultural District will host monthly visual arts events consisting of exhibits and programming by many well-known downtown venues.
• Third Thursdays in Pittsfield: Every third Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. A different theme each month including outdoor and indoor programs of culture, sports, and the bizarre. The galleries are open and streets are closed.
• The Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge: Summer in the Berkshires is never complete without a walk along Norman Rockwell's picture perfect Main Street, then relaxing on the Red Lion's porch rocking chairs.