Tonight’s the opening of “The Torch-Bearers” at Williamstown Theatre Festival, in Williamstown, MA.  This theater has been renowned as a Berkshires tradition for 55 years.  The play is a 1920’s side-splitting farce about a bunch of amateurs trying to produce a play, sort of like “Noises Off.”

Williamstown is about 40 minutes from Brook Farm Inn, and guests can enjoy a full day there at the Clark, the Williams College Art Museum, and some great restaurants and shops.

Back by popular demand, the Barrington Stage Company (in Pittsfield) will be presenting “Freud’s Last Session.”  Linda and I were fortunate enough to get tickets in June to see this play by Mark St. Germain.  It played to sold out audiences every night and with good reason.  The play is intelligent, well acted, and riveting.  This is theater at its best!  If you are coming to the Berkshires order your tickets now!

Mark H. Dold and Martin Rayner

Plot Summary

After escaping the Nazis in Vienna, legendary psychiatrist Dr. Sigmund Freud invites a young, little known professor, C.S. Lewis, to his home in London. Lewis expects to be called on the carpet for satirizing Freud in a recent book but the dying Freud has a more significant agenda. On the day England entered WW II, Freud and Lewis clash on the existence of God, love, sex and the meaning of life – only two weeks before Freud chose to take his own.

Tuesday through Friday at 7:30pm
Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm
Sundays at 7:30pm
(please note, no 4pm performance on Sat., Aug. 15)

On sale now! Tickets are $25 and $30 (Sat. eve.). $15 tickets are available for students age 21 and younger for all performances except Saturday evenings. Senior citizen tickets are $20 on Saturday matinees only.

Box Office:
413.236.8888

Can’t believe we’re already talking about fall foliage, because we’re in the middle of a delightful summer.  But we have to mention a website that we just became aware of, http://foliage.org/massachusetts/bed-and-breakfast/brook-farm-inn-berkshires-bb/.   It’s all about New England in the scenic autumn season, and we’re glad to say that there’s a lovely write-up of Brook Farm Inn.

Who put the Mock in Democracy?  It’s the Capitol Steps, and they’re performing all summer here in Lenox.  We saw their performance a few days ago, and went home with our jaws hurting from laughing nonstop for 90 minutes.  The song and dance political satire troupe is very talented, and no one in the news is safe from theirparodies.  To quote from their program, when they hear of a scandal, they ask “1) Is it funny? and 2) What rhymes with it?”  Shows are nightly except Tuesday at 8 PM. For tickets, phone the box office at 413-881-1636.

He may have left his heart in San Francisco, but the rest of him — incomparable singing style included — will make a rare Tanglewood appearance this Tuesday, July 21st.  Known as one of the world’s most beloved interpreters of the “Great American Songbook,” Bennett will share the Tanglewood stage with his band, starting at 8 PM.  See www.bso.org for more information.  At Brook Farm Inn in Lenox, there are still a couple of rooms available.

The Millay Colony for the Arts is usually a quiet haven for writers, artists and composers.  But this Saturday at 6 PM, you can attend the Summer Fete,  on the estate adjoining Steepletop, Millay’s home in the Berkshires.  The current artists-in-residence will have works on display, music will be performed, and the Colony’s new  journal, “Edna,” will be unveiled.  This is a little different from other years, because a ticket is required.  Information at www.millaycolony.org, 518-392-4144.  At Brook Farm Inn, we’re supporters of the Millay Society as well, which is a separate organization.

Visit the home of American Abstract Artists George L.K. Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen, set on a 46-acre estate in the heart of Lenox, Massachusetts. View their paintings, frescoes, and sculpture; experience their exquisite collection of American and European Cubist Art.

The Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio are open during the summer for tours on the hour Thursday thru Sunday.  It is a short walk down Hawthorne Street from Brook Farm Inn. 

Visitors can walk through the House with all of its original furnishings and view not only the works of Morris and Frelinghuysen on the walls, but walk right up to the works of some of their more famous colleagues and contemporaries including Picasso, Braque, Leger and Gris. As Director Kinney Frelinghuysen notes, “The integration of living quarters with the immediacy of a concentration of works of art is a pleasurable and unexpected way to propel visitors into early 20th century art.”

Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio

The newest restaurant  in Lenox is called The Berkshire Harvest, because the menu is built around fresh foods that are grown, produced, or sourced in the local community.  We ate dinner there and enjoyed a well prepared meal, in a pleasant atmosphere, with cheerful and attentive service.  The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and prices are modest.  There’s something on the imaginative menu for everyone — meat, chicken , pasta, vegetarian and entrees — plus great drinks and desserts.  We’ll be recommending it to Brook Farm Inn guests!

Studio at Chesterwood

Chesterwood is the house & studio of Daniel Chester French, sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial.  It’s a 10-minute ride from Brook Farm Inn, and one of the treasures of the Berkshires.  You can tour the house and studio, stroll the gardens, and wander the wooded pathways.  A new outdoor contemporary sculpture exhibit has just opened there as well, and artists from the show will offer workshops and demonstrations on Sundays in July & August.

We’re delighted that Brook Farm Inn is mentioned by Francine Segan on this terrific website magazine in an article entitled “Summer Breakfasts — Perfect for a Sunday Brunch.”  http://www.bettyconfidential.com/cbc/food-home.html  Francine is a food historian and cookbook author who’s written about us in the past.  She is also a noted presenter, who was at Shakespeare & Co. last night, and our guests who attended raved about her.  We’ve enjoyed Francine’s presentations about food and movies, and also food in Shakespeare’s time. We highly recommend her cookbooks!