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September 23, 2004
• City Scene City Scene 'Vanity Fair’ and Irish Variety A lively compendium of weekend events in Pittsfield. For a lunchtime treat today, singer Stephanie Corby performs live at 12:15 in room K-111 of the Berkshire Community College, located at 1350 West St. To get a sneak preview of her sound, visit www.stephaniecorby.com and listen in. "Here's what Stephanie Corby brings to the party: heartstopping vocals, appreciation for smart language, a buoyant sense of melody and more than a little bit o’ soul!" says Marilyn Rea Beyer, music director for Boston’s WUMB. This evening, Bellissimo Dolce café at 444 North St. hosts an evening of readings by fiction writers, beginning at 7. Chris Andersen will be sharing excerpts from his novel, "Secrets in Kurdistan," and Judith Lerner and Norah Walsh will be reading new and older stories. Free and open to the public. I am sad to report that The Berkshire Museum's wonderful Little Cinema is closing up shop for the season. Their last movie is this weekend, and it’s a beauty. "Vanity Fair," based on William Thackeray’s 700-plus page, 1840 opus, opens tonight at 8, with showings at 8 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday too, as well as a matinee at 2 on Monday. The film stars Reese Witherspoon as 19th-century social climber Becky Sharp and the Village Voice called it a "gorgeous, sensual riot of movement and color." Tomorrow evening, come and see the old-fashioned touring Irish Variety Show at St. Mark's Church parish center, featuring Irish comedy, music, song and dance, and did I mention comedy? The show, which starts at 7, features performers from Ireland, England, Scotland and Australia, as well as stateside, and I’m told it’s suitable for the whole family. Tickets (available at the door) are only $10, and corned beef sandwiches and more will be available for purchase before the show, with coffee and dessert available during intermission! Doors open at 6:30. St. Mark’s parish center is located at 400 West St. For more information, call 447-7510. Also on Friday, for one weekend only, Two of Us Productions, which presented the musical "Cabaret" at the First United Methodist Church several months ago, returns with the controversial play "Agnes of God." The play, a poignant story of a young nun, will be performed at 8 on Friday and Saturday nights, and at 3 on Sunday at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, located at 28 Renne St. For more information, call 518-329-6263 or 499-2071. On Saturday, the Friends of the Silvio O. Conte National Archives sponsors a full day of lectures by experts on genealogical research. The conference, entitled "The Berkshires -- Life in the Past Lane" will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at One West Street from 8 to 4:30 on Saturday, September 25. The registration fee is $40.00 per person and includes the buffet lunch. Not sure if there is space still available, but if you're interested call 236-3600. On Saturday and Sunday, from 9:30 to 5, Hancock Shaker Village is sponsoring an old-fashioned Country Fair and Crafts Festival, featuring traditional craftspeople demonstrating their skill and selling their work. There will be over a dozen wood artisans, plus quilters, weavers and knitters, tinsmiths and iron-workers, and, for a truly unique gift, check out quill pen maker Frank Disbrow. You can also stock up on early fall farm produce and goodies, including pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, maple syrup, baked goods, squash, goat cheeses, dried flowers, wreaths and garlands. In addition, New England Heritage Breeds will be holding their 7th annual exhibition and sale of rare and historic livestock. And there will be horse-drawn wagon rides and ox cart rides. For more information, call 443-0188. Saturday night, the Berkshire Music Hall on Union Street presents an evening of hip hop with J. Soul and special guests Definitive Lifestyles and DJ Jake Chase. It all starts at 9:30 and tickets are only $5.
The South Mountain Concert chamber music series continues with a performance by the Muir String Quartet at 3. The New York Times, among many others, have praised them highly, noting their "sound, interpretive depth, and polish to rival the best in the world." The Boston Globe praises their "sumptuous tone, exhilarating involvement and extraordinary unanimity of purpose." But one of my favorite press quotes about them comes from the Tucson Citizen: “These four smile a lot when they play. Some groups make it look easy. Muir makes it look fun.” You can find out more about them at www.muirstringquartet.com. The South Mountain Concert Hall is located on Route 7. For more information, call 442-2106. At 4 on Sunday, the Berkshire Music School at 30 Wendell Ave. features a student recital by 13-year-old Madalyn Parnas on violin and 11-year-old Cicely Parnas on cello. The program includes Chaconne in G Minor by Tommaso Vitali, First Sonata in E Minor, Op. 38 by Johannes Brahms, Malaguena by Sarasate and Piano Trio No 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 1, No. 1 by Ludwig van Beethoven. They'll be accompanied by professional pianists and teachers Kristen Tuttman and Betty-Jean Hagen. Tickets for the concert, which is a fundraiser for the school, are $10 for adults. Children under 16 may attend free. Refreshments will be served following the recital. For more information, call 442-1411. And don't forget: Send your tips, calendar listings and press releases to cityscene@earthlink.net. |
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