Lenox Celebrating Holmes' 120th Anniversary

10:39AM / Tuesday, October 02, 2007Print Story | Email Story

LENOX - In conjunction with its presentation of the American premiere of "The Secret of Sherlock Holmes" (Sept. 28-Oct. 28), Shakespeare and Company has set events celebrating the 120th anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. The "Sherlock Holmes Weekend" runs Oct. 7, 19, 20 and 21 at various venues in the town that will host events paying tribute to and offering a perspective of Holmes as a literary character and cultural icon. In addition to Shakespeare and Companyâ€™s Kemble Street campus, events will be held at the Lenox Library, Cranwell Resort and Spa, Gateways Inn and Restaurant and Ventfort Hall. "The Sherlock Holmes Weekend is designed as a fun way for Holmes fans to meet, network and deepen their understanding of Sir Arthur Conan Doyleâ€™s work," said artistic director Tina Packer, "as well as a chance for complete newcomers to the Holmes canon to enjoy a vibrant introduction to one of the most indelible and recognizable fictional characters in literature." The celebration includes Holmes-themed cuisine, with a post-show sherry and chocolate dessert reception, a pre-show Victorian dinner buffet, a pre-show traditional English brunch as well as lectures/presentations, memorabilia and performances. Themed presentations will be made by Sherlockian experts including Leslie Klinger, editor of "The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes" and one of the worldâ€™s foremost scholars on the subject. Presentations will also be made by Scott Monty (business manager of the leading Sherlock Holmes scholarly journal and co-host of a popular Sherlock podcast) and Sally Sugarman, a former professor of childhood studies at Bennington (Vt.) College and published Sherlock scholar. Each event is priced individually, and a complete "Sherlock Package" includes the dessert reception, three key presentations on Holmes, a pre-show dinner buffet, a Sunday brunch, and one ticket to either the Oct. 20 or Oct. 21 performance of "The Secret of Sherlock Holmes." The complete package is priced at $195 per person. The events are in addition to the regularly scheduled performances of "The Secret of Sherlock Holmes" by Jeremy Paul. The play is directed by Robert Walsh and features the companyâ€™s associate artistic director Michael Hammond as Holmes, and associate director of training Dave Demke as Dr. Watson. Tickets to all events, including those held in other venues, are available from the box office. Performances of "The Secret of Sherlock Holmes" are at 7 p.m. and at 2 p.m. Tickets for just the play range from $10 to $57. For schedule information or to inquire about student, senior, group and Rush Tix or to receive a brochure, visit www.shakespeare.org or call the box office at (413) 637-3353. Foundersâ€™ Theatre is air-conditioned and wheelchair-accessible. "Shakespeare and Company wants to celebrate the other great English canon and partner with other organizations in Lenox to provide a fun learning experience to anyone interested in learning more about Sherlock Holmes," said Mike Clary, communications director and Sherlock Holmes Weekend project manager. As a special offer to the local community, the companyâ€™s Berkshire residentsâ€™ half-off discount will be expanded to apply to any performance of "The Secret of Sherlock Holmes." Sherlock Holmes Weekend Itinerary: Oct. 7 "221B Baker Street Brunch: A Taste of Victorian Times" Josieâ€™s Place Cafe at Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble St. A ticket for the 2 or 7 p.m. performance and includes a Victorian-styled brunch with scrambled quail eggs and scones with marmalade, as well as traditional American items. Two seating times are offered: 10 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. Brunch and one ticket to the show are priced at $50 per person. There is limited seating; book space now and choose a preferred seating time. Oct. 19-21 Sherlock Holmes Weekend Package: Various locations/times Advance reservations are available for a complete Sherlock Holmes Weekend Package, which includes the Friday evening sherry and chocolate dessert reception, presentations by Sugarman, Monty and Klinger, an Oct. 20 pre-show dinner buffet, Oct. 21 brunch, and one ticket to either performance those days of "The Secret of Sherlock Holmes." The complete package is priced at $195 per person. Oct. 19 "The Secret of Sherlock Holmes" evening performance at 7 Foundersâ€™ Theatre, 70 Kemble St.; Tickets are $32, $45 and $57 (Berkshire residents receive 50 percent discount) Box office: (413) 637- 3353 or www.shakespeare.org Postshow sherry, chocolate and dessert reception at 9 at Gateways Inn and Restaurant, 51 Walker St. (www.gatewaysinn.com) Hosted by inn owners Rosemary and Fabrizio Chiarello, the event is a chance to meet the cast, fellow Sherlock fans and Sherlock experts. Chocolates are supplied by Chocolate Springs of Lenox. Admission is $30 per person. Oct. 20 "Sherlock for Children," a presentation by professor Sally Sugarman at noon in Founders' Theatre. Box office: (413) 637- 3353 or www.shakespeare.org "Children, like everyone else, should read the Sherlockian canon," said Sugarman. "However, there are many opportunities for them to visit Sherlock Holmes in other venues. The stories are often told through the Baker Street Irregulars, those intrepid child helpers of Holmes. There are other child sleuths modeled on Holmes. The game is afoot as we examine these childrenâ€™s adventures.â€ Attendees can also peruse a selection of Holmes collectibles while catching a sneak peek of Paulo Seixasâ€™ set design for "The Secret of Sherlock Holmes." A bibliography of books discussed will be distributed to participants. Admission is $20 per person. "Sherlock 2.0" at 1:30 p.m. will look at how the fascination with the great detective has evolved in a presentation by noted Holmes expert Scott Monty at Cranwell Resort and Spa, 55 Lee Road. Admission is $25 per person. "Why The Fascination With A 120-Year Old Detective?" at 3 p.m. at the Lenox Library's Sedgwick Reading Room with by Leslie Klinger, editor of "The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes." Followed by book signing. Admission is $30 per person. Pre-show Victorian Buffet at 5 p.m. at Shakespeare & Company's Josie's Place Cafe, 70 Kemble St. Price: $40 per person. Box office: (413) 637- 3353 www.shakespeare.org 7 p.m.: The Secret of Sherlock Holmes Shakespeare & Company Foundersâ€™ Theatre, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox. Tickets are $32, $45 and $57 (Berkshire residents receive 50% discount). Box office: (413) 637- 3353 www.shakespeare.org Post-show Victorian cocktails at 9 at Ventfort Hall, 104 Walker St., www.gildedage.org Admission is $10 and includes one cocktail. Oct. 21 221B Baker Street Sunday Brunch at 10 a.m. at Shakespeare & Companyâ€™s Josieâ€™s Place CafÃ©. Box office: (413) 637- 3353 Price: $25 per person, www.shakespeare.org. A reprise of the Oct. 7 event, featuring scrambled quail eggs, scones with marmalade, Chinese tea, coffee and some traditional American fare. "The Secret of Sherlock Holmes" matinee at 2 in Foundersâ€™ Theatre. Tickets are $32, $45 and $57 (Berkshire residents receive 50 percent discount). Box office: (413) 637- 3353 or www.shakespeare.org Also at 2, "Ladies of the Gilded Age Tour" at Ventfort Hall, 104 Walker St., www.gildedage.org Offers a look at the fashion, style and aesthetic of the Gilded Age. Check www.shakespeare.org periodically for additional events. Bios Klinger is considered to be one of the worldâ€™s foremost authorities on Sherlock Holmes. He is the editor of the definitive collection of the Holmes canon, the three-volume "The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes," published by W.W. Norton in 2004 and 2005. The first two volumes, "The Complete Short Stories," won the Edgar, the highest award of the Mystery Writers of America, for "Best Critical/Biographical" work in 2005 and were short-listed for the Macavity, the Anthony, and the Agatha awards. In 2006, the third volume, "The Novels," was nominated for the Edgar, the Macavity, the Anthony, and the Agatha awards, as well as a Quill award in the mystery/thriller category. Klinger is a member of the Baker Street Irregulars. He writes occasional book reviews for the Los Angeles Times. His current project is "The New Annotated Dracula," to be published by W. W. Norton in 2008. Klinger has written numerous articles on Sherlockiana, as well as the books "The Life and Times of Mr. Sherlock Holmes," "John H. Watson, M.D.," "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Other Notable Personages," and (with Andrew Jay Peck) the revised edition of "The Date Beingâ€”?: A Compendium of Sherlockian Chronologies." He has taught a number of UCLA extension courses on "Sherlock Holmes and His World." Monty is a consultant in the use of new-media technologies for marketing and examines this topic in "The Social Media Marketing Blog" (www.scottmonty.com). As a Sherlockian, he is on the leading edge as this long-organized network of Holmes fans takes advantage of new technologies. Monty facilitates the discussion and enjoyment of Sir Arthurâ€™s work through avenues both traditional and innovative â€” including a scholarly quarterly, the World Wide Web, and the emerging medium of podcasting. He is business manager and Webmaster of the Baker Street Journal, author of the Baker Street Blog (www.bakerstreetblog.com), and co-host (with Burt Wolder) of the celebrated podcast "I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere" (www.ihearofsherlock.com). Founded in 1946, the quarterly Baker Street Journal is the leading forum for Sherlock Holmes scholarship. It is published under the auspices of the Baker Street Irregulars, the organization of Sherlock enthusiasts founded in 1934 that accepts new members through invitation only. Sugarman taught childhood studies, including childrenâ€™s literature and childrenâ€™s popular culture, at Bennington College for 35 years. She was a founder of the Baker Street Breakfast Club, a Sherlockian scion society, and was one of the coordinators of its 1994 conference "Victorian Sleuth to Modern Hero." She was a co-editor of "Sherlock Holmes: Victorian Sleuth to Modern Hero," a collection of papers from the conference. She presented a paper "The Mysterious Case of the Detective as Child Hero: Sherlock Holmes, Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew as Role Models" at the Popular Culture Association 1995 Conference. She has been a reviewer of historical mysteries for Deadly Pleasures since 2003. Sugarman is the author of "If Kids Could Vote: Children, Democracy and the Media" and has written on children and media studies for the past 20 years. She is a former chairman of the Vermont State Board of Education.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Marionette Shows At Ventfort Hall for Children

01:41PM / Friday, December 19, 2025

LENOX, Mass. — The puppeteer Carl Sprague will return to Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion and Museum in Lenox with Rapunzel for two holiday vacation week marionette performances.

The dates and times are Saturday, Dec. 27 and Monday, Dec. 29, both at 3:30 pm. The audiences will have the opportunity to meet Sprague after.

Sprague, who has appeared annually at Ventfort Hall with his "behind the scenery" mastery, has been a puppeteer since childhood. He inherited a collection of 60 antique Czech marionettes, each about eight inches tall that were assembled by his great-grandfather, Julius Hybler. Hybler's legacy also includes two marionette theaters.

Also, Sprague has been a set designer for such motion pictures as "The Royal Tenenbaums" and Scorcese's "The Age of Innocence," as well as for theater productions including those of Shakespeare & Company.

Admission to the show is $20 per person; $10 for children 4-17 and free for age 3 and under. Children must be accompanied by adults. Ventfort Hall is decorated for the holidays. Reservations are required as seating is limited and can be made on line at https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or by calling (413) 637-3206. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox.

View Full Story