1423 - Berkshires Architecture, Shakespeare & Co, and Structured Wiring
February 9-15, 2004 | August 9-15, 2004
HI, I'M BOB VILA. WELCOME HOME
AGAIN
TO OUR PROJECT IN THE
BERKSHIRES.
AS OFTEN HAPPENS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS,
WE'RE BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD
PLACE.
THIS IS OUR FINAL VISIT TO THIS
PROJECT.
IT WILL NOT BE COMPLETED IN TIME
FOR OUR NEEDS.
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK
AROUND,
AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO
SPRING LAWN MANSION,
ONE OF THE ORIGINAL COTTAGES IN
THE BERKSHIRES,
WHICH IS REINVENTING ITSELF AS A
SHAKESPEARIAN CENTER.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE
YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS
ALL THOUGH THE EXTERIOR OF OUR
HOUSE IS VERY, VERY COMPLETE AND
TIGHT TO THE WEATHER,
THE INSIDE IS TOO MUCH BEHIND
SCHEDULE.
SOME OF THE THINGS ARE GOING IN
AS WE SPEAK.
WE'VE GOT OUR BEAUTIFUL WOODPORT
DOORS THAT BEING INSTALLED,
SOME OF THEM AT LEAST,
AND THESE ARE MDF DOORS WITH A
NICE PANELED LOOK.
AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
EMTEK DOOR KNOBS.
THIS IS A COMPANY THAT'S
RECREATING SOME OF THE
HIGH-QUALITY HARDWARE
OF THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY
IN AMERICA.
I LOVE THE GLASS KNOBS.
OTHER FEATURES ARE IN.
I MEAN, OUR STAIRCASE WAS BUILT
IN PLACE AT SIMPLEX INDUSTRIES,
THE MODULAR HOME COMPANY.
BUT THE DETAILING LIKE THE
SPINDLES ON THE BANNISTER
HAVE BEEN APPLIED HERE ON THE
JOB.
AND IN THE MAIN ROOM HERE,
THOUGH,
YOU GET A BETTER IDEA OF HOW FAR
BEHIND THINGS ARE.
SOME OF THE ROUGH HASN'T BEEN
COMPLETED,
NEVER MIND THE FINISH.
THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF
WAREHOUSE USE TO THE SPACE
IN THAT MUCH OF WHAT YOU SEE
HERE
JUST IS WAITING TO BE INSTALLED.
AND THE DINING AREA IS, AGAIN,
JUST BECOME A WAREHOUSE AREA.
THE KITCHEN IS INCOMPLETE.
IN FACT, WE'VE GOT ALL THE
MATERIALS HERE.
HERE'S SOME OF THAT CATEGORY 5
WIRE.
MOST OF THE HOUSE HAD IT
PRE-INSTALLED AT SIMPLEX.
THIS IS FOR THE BASEMENT.
WATCH THIS, WE'LL LEARN A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT
HOW THE CAT 5 GOT INTEGRATED
INTO THE SIMPLEX CONSTRUCTION.
Vila: SO, JOE, WE DON'T OFTEN
THINK OF MODULAR HOUSING
HAVING HIGH TECHNOLOGY
INSTALLATIONS. WHAT ARE WE
LOOKING AT HERE?
BOB, WE'RE LOOKING AT A
STRUCTURED MEDIA CONTROL PANEL
FOR STRUCTURED WIRING,
FOR ALL TYPES OF PHONE AND DATA
DISTRIBUTION,
FOR HIGH SPEED INTERNET.
HIGH SPEED INTERNET?
SURE.
CABLE, TV, DSS SPLITTERS.
ALL KINDS OF TECHNOLOGY.
AND IT ALL, REALLY, HINGES ON
USING
THIS TYPE OF CABLE THAT YOU HAVE
HERE.
RIGHT. THIS IS THE CABLE THAT
WE'RE USING.
IT HAS 4 CONDUCTORS IN IT.
TWO OF THEM ARE COAX.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? TWO ARE
COAX?
COAX IS USED FOR YOUR SATELLITE
TV OR YOUR CABLE TV.
RIGHT.
IT CAN ALSO BE USED AS AN INPUT
AND AN OUTPUT.
OK.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO CAT 5E
CABLES,
WHICH AGAIN CAN BE USED FOR
PHONE LINES OR DATA LINES
AND CAN ALSO BE USED FOR INPUTS
AND OUTPUTS.
WHEN YOU SAY DATA LINES, YOU
MEAN COMPUTER?
CORRECT. YES. YOU CAN NETWORK
YOUR HOME COMPUTERS WITH THIS
SYSTEM.
NOW, ARE THERE-- I MEAN, WE'RE
BUILDING BOXES ESSENTIALLY,
MODULES THAT ARE THEN PLUGGED
TOGETHER.
DO YOU THEN HAVE TO PLUG LENGTHS
OF WIRE TOGETHER,
AND WOULDN'T THAT AFFECT THE
QUALITY?
NO, BOB, WHAT WE DO HERE IS WE
SET THIS UP FOR EACH BOX
TO HAVE ITS WIRE RUNNING AS A
HOME RUN.
AH!
AND THAT ENABLES US TO COIL IT
UP IN ADVANCE.
AND WE MEASURE OUR LENGTH TO
MAKE SURE IT'S RIGHT.
AND WHEN IT'S ON SITE, WE JUST
PULL IT OUT
AND BRING IT RIGHT IN JUST LIKE
A STICK-BUILT HOUSE.
SO IT IS JUST LIKE A STICK-BUILT
HOUSE
ONCE WE'VE GOT IT ON THE LOT.
SURE. GREAT. THANKS, JOE.
THANK YOU.
IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY COMPONENTS
OF THE HOUSE WERE PUT TOGETHER
AT SIMPLEX,
INCLUDING ALL THE MERILLAT
CABINETS IN THE KITCHEN BACK
HERE AND THE ISLAND.
AND OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT ALL THE
OTHER MATERIALS HERE,
INCLUDING MY PAINTS, BUT
NOTHING'S BEEN INSTALLED.
AND IN THE REAL WORLD, WHEN A
HOUSE PROJECT
GETS DELAYED BY A MONTH OR 2 OR
3,
THE FAMILY JUST CAN'T MOVE IN.
BUT IN THE WORLD OF TV SHOWS, WE
DON'T HAVE THAT FREEDOM.
WE'VE GOT TO COME ON AIR WITH
SOME CONTENT.
BUT TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF
WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE,
I DECIDED WE'D SIT DOWN WITH OUR
CONTRACTOR MIKE SHIELS. WATCH!
Vila: MICHAEL SHIELS HAS BEEN IN
BUSINESS IN THE BERKSHIRES
FOR OVER 25 YEARS HERE ON ROUTE
7 IN SHEFFIELD,
BUILDING CUSTOM HOMES,
SPECIALIZING IN TIMBER FRAMES
AND STICK BUILT.
AND WE'RE VISITING AT HIS
RECENTLY BUILT OFFICE BUILDING.
AND IT IS A BEAUTY.
Shiels: THANK YOU.
Vila: I'M VERY FOND OF IT.
NOW, JUST TO TALK FOR A COUPLE
OF MINUTES
ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH OUR
PROJECT HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE REALLY KEEN ON
THE MODULAR IDEA,
AND WE SAW IT GO UP SO QUICKLY.
THAT WE WERE ALL VERY, VERY
IMPRESSED.
BUT NOW, WE'RE A COUPLE OF
MONTHS BEHIND,
AND IT'S KIND OF MAKING IT
IMPOSSIBLE
FOR THE TV SHOW TO STAY WITH IT.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WELL, THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
GREW SIGNIFICANTLY
FROM WHEN WE FIRST GOT ON BOARD.
THE OWNER/DESIGNER CHANGED A LOT
OF THINGS,
CHANGED SOME OF THE INTERIOR
COMPONENTS.
SO BASED ON THAT, SCHEDULES
CHANGED.
HIS BUDGET REALLY DIDN'T MEET
HIS CHANGES,
AND WE TRIED TO ACCOMMODATE HIM,
BUT TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH
TIMING, BUDGET,
IT WAS A REAL STUMBLING BLOCK.
BUT IT WILL GET FINISHED. WE
JUST WON'T SEE IT.
OH, YES.
AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IN
REALITY TELEVISION,
THIS IS THE BIGGEST STUMBLING
BLOCK OF ANY FAMILY
TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH A REMODEL
OR A NEW CONSTRUCTION--
THAT AS THE PROCESS EVOLVES,
THEY KEEP ADDING TO IT...
YES.
OR THEY KEEP EMBELLISHING IT, OR
THEY KEEP MAKING IT LARGER.
BUT THE BUDGET, THE MONEY
THEY'VE GOT,
DOESN'T NECESSARILY GROW ALONG
WITH THE REST.
THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH, WITH
DIFFERENT PRODUCT LINES
THAT THEY BOUGHT IN
AND HAD CHANGES ALONG THE WAY,
YOU KNOW, TWO STEPS FORWARD,
ONE STEP BACK.
GREAT WORKING WITH YOU, MIKE.
THANK YOU.
WELL, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.
THANK YOU.
Vila: WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE WILL BE AT THE SPRING LAWN
MANSION IN LENNOX TO FIND OUT
ABOUT SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY.
THE BEAUTIFUL BERKSHIRE HILLS
ARE DOTTED WITH MANY FANTASTIC
COTTAGES AND ESTATES,
ALL OF THE FROM THE GILDED AGE.
WE THINK OF NEWPORT, RHODE
ISLAND, AS BEING THE HOME
OF THE 400 IN THE SUMMERTIME,
BUT MANY FOLKS CAME HERE.
WE'RE IN THE TOWN OF LENOX,
MASSACHUSETTS.
AND IN THIS TOWN, IN 1897,
VENTFORT HALL WAS BUILT
FOR A MAN NAMED GEORGE MORGAN.
IT RECENTLY SAW AN ADAPTIVE
REUSE AS THE MAIN CHARACTER OR
LOCATION
IN THE MOVIE "CIDER HOUSE
RULES."
A MANSION CALLED BELLEFONTAINE
FROM 1897
WAS DESIGNED ON THE ORIGINAL
PETIT TRIANON.
IT'S NOW THE HOME OF THE CANYON
RANCH SPA.
WHEATLEIGH, A FAMOUS PROPERTY
FROM 1892,
DESIGNED IN THE ITALIANATE STYLE
BY PEABODY AND STEARNS,
HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL INN FOR
MANY YEARS.
AND SPRING LAWN, ALSO HERE IN
LENOX,
ALSO IN THE ITALIANATE STYLE,
DATING TO 1904,
IT'S DONE DUTY IN SEVERAL
ADAPTIVE REINCARNATIONS
AS A BOYS' SCHOOL FOR NUMEROUS
DECADES,
AND NOW IT'S THE HOME OF
SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY.
LET'S GO INSIDE AND MEET TINA
PACKER, WHO FOUNDED IT,
AND LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.
Vila: AND HELLO, TINA. WHAT A
WONDERFUL STAIRCASE.
HI, BOB. ISN'T IT A TERRIFIC
STAIRCASE?
IT'S FABULOUS. I'VE BEEN TOLD
THAT IT WAS INSPIRED BY HAMPTON
COURT, HENRY VIII's PLACE?
WELL, SO THEY SAY, AND IT'S
CERTAINLY
BEING USED RIGHT NOW IN THE
PLAY,
WHICH HAS CONNECTIONS TO HENRY
VIII.
SO I THINK IT'S KIND OF
APPROPRIATE.
IT'S APPROPRIATE, INDEED. THIS
IS A HOUSE FROM 1904,
AND IT WAS THE FIRST HOUSE
DESIGNED BY
A YOUNG CAMBRIDGE ARCHITECT IN
MASSACHUSETTS.
GUY LOWELL OF THE FAMOUS LOWELL
FAMILY.
HE BUILT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
IN BOSTON,
AND HE ALSO BUILT THE COURTHOUSE
IN NEW YORK CITY
AS WELL AS HUNDREDS OF OTHER
PRIVATE RESIDENCES.
BUT THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST
PRIVATE RESIDENCE--
WELL, THE VERY FIRST BUILDING HE
EVER BUILT.
AND IT'S A THEATER
AMONGST OTHER THINGS TODAY,
AND WE ALSO THROW A LOT OF OUR
BIG PARTIES HERE AND SO ON AND
SO FORTH.
NOW, YOU CAME TO THE BERKSHIRES
AND STARTED
SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY, WHAT,
20--
26 YEARS AGO.
26 YEARS AGO. AND IT DIDN'T
START HERE?
NO, IT STARTED AT THE MOUNT,
EDITH WHARTON'S HOUSE.
WHICH IS THE HOME THAT WE
VISITED EARLIER IN THE SEASON.
RIGHT. SO, WHEN I CAME HERE IN
'78--OBVIOUSLY, I CAME FROM
ENGLAND,
AND I WANTED TO START A THEATER
COMPANY,
AND SOMEBODY SAID TO ME, "OH,
YOU SHOULD DO IT IN THE
BERKSHIRES.
"THERE IS CLASSICAL MUSIC WITH
THE BOSTON SYMPHONY.
"THERE'S A DANCE FESTIVAL AT
JACOB'S PILLOW.
WE SHOULD STICK A THEATER IN THE
MIDDLE."
CULTURE.
YES. THERE'S CULTURE, AND YOU
WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE AN AUDIENCE
THERE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN EITHER
LONDON OR NEW YORK,
WHICH WAS WHERE I HAD BEEN
LIVING BEFORE,
BECAUSE I WANTED TO LIVE IN A
COMMUNITY
BECAUSE I WAS SO IDEALISTIC, I
WANTED TO SEE,
COULD A CLASSICAL THEATER
COMPANY REALLY AFFECT A
COMMUNITY?
AND SO WE MOVED INTO THE
BERKSHIRES AT SOMEBODY'S
SUGGESTION.
AND I LOVE IT HERE. IT'S A
FANTASTIC PLACE TO LIVE.
AND THE HOUSE ITSELF, AS YOU
SAID, SERVES AS A PERFORMANCE
SPACE.
IS THERE A ROOM THAT'S BIG
ENOUGH TO BE--
YES, THERE IS, A 99-SEAT THEATER
IN THE SALON.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY THE MAIN
SALON IN THE HOUSE?
THAT'S RIGHT. AND SO WE DO
MOSTLY PLAYS
FROM THE TURN OF THE CENTURY,
ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT THE
PLACE WAS BUILT.
Vila: I SEE.
SOME MODERN PLAYS, AS WELL.
I MEAN, FOR INSTANCE, RIGHT NOW
WE'RE DOING "LETTICE AND
LOVAGE,"
WHICH IS A PETER SHAFFER PLAY,
WHICH IS WHY WE'RE USING THE
STAIRS AS PART OF THE SET,
AND THEN WE GO INTO THE THEATER
AFTER THAT.
NOW, THIS IS NOT ALL THERE IS,
THOUGH.
YOU'VE GOT A HUGE CAMPUS HERE
FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
AS WELL AS PERFORMING PURPOSES.
WE HAVE 64 ACRES, AND IT'S GOING
TO BE AN INTERNATIONAL CENTER
FOR SHAKESPEARE PERFORMANCE AND
STUDIES.
SO WE DON'T JUST PERFORM, BOB,
WE DO A HUGE EDUCATION PROGRAM,
WHICH MAYBE YOU HAVE TIME TO GO
AND SEE.
ALL THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN
OUR WONDERFUL FOUNDERS' THEATRE,
WHICH IS JUST HERE.
THE FOUNDERS' THEATRE WAS A
QUONSET HUT,
OR NISSEN HUT, YOU MIGHT CALL
IT,
IN WHICH WE ADAPTED AND MADE
INTO
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THEATER
OUT OF CANVAS AND SCAFFOLDING.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET A CHANCE TO
SEE THAT.
AND THIS BUILDING HERE IS ALSO A
HISTORIC BUILDING, RIGHT?
THAT'S A McKIM, MEAD AND WHITE
BUILDING. IT'S ST. MARTIN'S.
IT'S A DORM BUILDING BUILT BY
THE LENOX SCHOOL FOR BOYS,
WHICH IN FACT PUT 3 ESTATES
TOGETHER IN 1938.
AND THAT WAS A PREVIOUS ADAPTIVE
REUSE OF THE ESTATE.
YES, THAT WAS A PREVIOUS
ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE ESTATE.
WE ACTUALLY-- WELL, HERE WE HAVE
A LOT OF OLD FARM BUILDINGS
AND THE OLD FIELD HOUSE. WE'RE
GOING TO TURN THAT--
THERE'S GOING TO BE A SMALL
THEATER IN THERE,
BUT IT'S PRINCIPALLY GOING TO BE
THE VILLAGE
THAT SURROUNDS THE ROSE
PLAYHOUSE,
WHICH I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
NEXT.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE WILL MEET, GREET,
AND HAVE AN EXHIBIT SPACE ON
SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE, TIMES, AND
THE ROSE THEATRE.
BUT LET'S DO TALK ABOUT THE ROSE
THEATRE
BECAUSE THAT'S THE BIG PLAN FOR
THIS PLACE.
THIS IS THE BIG PLAN, AND IT'S A
FEW YEARS AWAY YET.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN AUTHENTIC
RE-CREATION OF THE 1587 ROSE
PLAYHOUSE.
THAT'S THE PRECURSOR TO THE
GLOBE,
WHICH THEY BUILT IN LONDON.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
MUSEUM OF LONDON,
AND THEY NOW HAVE DONE ALL THEIR
RESEARCH.
FOR 10 YEARS, THEY RESEARCHED
THE FOUNDATIONS,
AND NOW THEY'VE DISSEMINATED THE
INFORMATION.
SO WE HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION,
SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THE MOST
ACCURATE RE-CREATION POSSIBLE,
WHICH MEANS THE ORIGINAL TOOLS,
THE ORIGINAL MATERIALS,
EVERYTHING AS CLOSE AS IT CAN BE
TO THE ORIGINAL.
AND YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED
EXPERIMENTING WITH THATCH.
CAN WE GO AND TAKE A LOOK?
WE CAN GO TAKE A LOOK.
WONDERFUL. OK.
Vila: NEXT, WE'LL LEARN MORE
DETAILS ABOUT THE PLANS FOR
BUILDING THE ROSE THEATRE.
STICK AROUND.
Vila: NEXT TIME ON "BOB VILA'S
HOME AGAIN,"
WE'RE BETWEEN A ROCK AND HARD
PLACE.
OUR MODULAR HOUSE PROJECT IN THE
BERKSHIRE HILLS IS BEHIND
SCHEDULE,
AND WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE.
ALSO, WE'LL VISIT SPRING LAWN
MANSION,
THE HOME OF SHAKESPEARE &
COMPANY.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THEIR AMBITIOUS
PLANS
TO BUILD A REPLICA OF
SHAKESPEARE'S ROSE THEATRE
IN LENOX, MASSACHUSETTS.
AND WE'LL VISIT THE RESTORATION
OF ELM COURT,
THE LARGEST SHINGLE-STYLE HOUSE
IN AMERICA.
DON'T MISS IT. THAT'S NEXT TIME
ON "HOME AGAIN."
Vila: NEXT TIME ON "BOB VILA'S
HOME AGAIN," IT'S A PROGRESS
REPORT ON OUR MODULAR HOME,
AND A VISIT WITH SHAKESPEARE &
COMPANY.
DON'T MISS IT.
Vila: SO, TINA, THESE ARE THE
FORMER PLAYING GROUNDS
FROM WHEN THERE WAS A BOYS PREP
SCHOOL HERE.
THAT'S RIGHT. AND AS YOU CAN
SEE,
WE'VE STILL GOT THE SOCCER FIELD
OUT THERE.
AND THIS MOCK-UP IS--
THIS IS THE ROSE FOOTPRINT
THEATRE.
WE CALL IT THE FOOTPRINT BECAUSE
IT IS THE FOOTPRINT OF THE THING
ITSELF.
AND WHEN IT'S BUILT, IT WILL BE
JUST
A LITTLE LARGER THAN THIS, BUT
NOT VERY MUCH.
BUT OF COURSE, GOING UP-- GOING
UP.
REALLY AS TALL AS THAT BUILDING
OVER THERE.
IT'LL BE THE SAME HEIGHT, 33
FEET.
WHAT IS THAT BUILDING? IT'S
RATHER PICTURESQUE.
IT IS, ISN'T IT? IT'S AN OLD
FARMHOUSE CARRIAGE BARN,
AND IT'S PROBABLY THE OLDEST
BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY.
WE ARE GOING TO CONVERT IT INTO
A MUSEUM SPACE,
AND INTO A THEATER, AND INTO
DRESSING ROOMS
FOR THE ROSE THEATRE ITSELF WHEN
IT GETS GOING.
THERE ARE SO MANY PICTURESQUE
RUINS IN THE BERKSHIRES.
AREN'T THERE? YES, IT'S
WONDERFUL.
LET'S GET CLOSER TO THIS BECAUSE
YOU WERE TELLING US
THAT YOU'VE BEEN EXPERIMENTING
WITH DIFFERENT BUILDING
MATERIALS
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED IN THE
16th CENTURY.
YES, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, THE
BERKSHIRES IN THE YEAR 2003,
2004, 2005
HAS A VERY DIFFERENT CLIMATE
THAN LONDON WAY BACK IN THE 16th
CENTURY,
SO WE NEED TO BUILD A THATCH AND
DIFFERENT PLASTERS
SO THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S
GOING TO WEATHER.
I SEE.
WE CAN'T BUILD IT EXACTLY LIKE
THEY HAD IT
BECAUSE OUR WINTERS ARE
DIFFERENT,
AND WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT
POSITION ON THE GLOBE.
AND WERE DO YOU GET THATCH
CRAFTSMEN?
HA HA HA HA HA!
FROM PLIMOTH PLANTATION. WHERE
ELSE?
IN MASSACHUSETTS? YES.
ON CAPE COD, WHERE WE'VE
RE-CREATED--OR IN PLYMOUTH
ACTUALLY, NOT ON CAPE COD.
YES.
WHERE THEY'VE RE-CREATED MANY
EARLY BUILDINGS FROM THE 1600s.
YES. AND IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO
HAVE, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, A BODY
OF KNOWLEDGE HERE.
IT'S NOT ALL ACROSS THE POND.
NO, EXACTLY.
THERE IS SOME OF IT HERE AS
WELL.
AND LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MEL
COBB.
HI, BOB.
HEY, MEL, HOW ARE YOU?
MEL CAME TO US FROM THE GLOBE IN
ENGLAND,
AND HE HELPED BUILD THE GLOBE
THERE.
HE CAME OVER HERE-- HE HAPPENS
TO BE AN ACTOR AS WELL--
SO HE'S PART OF OUR TEAM.
Vila: SO YOU'RE AN
ACTOR-BUILDER.
AN ACTOR- APPRENTICE BUILDER.
I'M KIND OF A BUILDER-ACTOR,
SO I CAN UNDERSTAND, YEAH.
BUT THE BURBAGES WERE, IN
SHAKESPEARE'S COMPANY,
THEY WERE THE BUILDERS OF THE
THEATER
AS WELL AS THE ACTORS IN THE
THEATER.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST
CONTINUING THE TRADITION.
SO, MEL, IS THE THATCH SOMETHING
THAT YOU PICK UP OVER HERE IN
AMERICA,
OR DO YOU HAVE TO BRING THIS
STUFF OVER FROM ENGLAND?
Cobb: ACTUALLY, THIS IS
SOMETHING--
ONE OF THE MATTERS THAT WE WERE
EXPERIMENTING WITH.
WE ACTUALLY GREW THIS PARTICULAR
THATCH,
WHICH IS RYE WHEAT, FROM SEED
OVER IN ALTAMONT, NEW YORK, ON A
FARM THERE.
WE HAD A GENTLEMAN CALLED
EVERETT RAU,
WHO DECIDED HE WANTED TO GROW IT
FOR US.
SO WE HAVE GROWN THIS FROM SEED.
OK. SO THEY'RE BASICALLY USING
THE SAME OLD TECHNIQUES?
Cobb: EXACTLY. STUART BOLTON AND
MICHAEL BURREY--
STUART FROM PLIMOTH PLANTATION,
MICHAEL FROM PLIMOTH PLANTATION
PREVIOUSLY,
NOW AN INDEPENDENT ARTISAN
AND OUR DESIGNATED ROSE
PLAYHOUSE ARTISAN.
Vila: IT LOOKS VERY GOOD! WHAT
ABOUT THE PLASTER THAT'S BEING
USED?
I NOTICED OVER THERE YOU'VE GOT
SOME SAMPLES.
IS IT MUD AND WATTLE OR--
Cobb: YES, WATTLE AND DAUB,
AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.
[PACKER LAUGHING]
THIS IS LATH AND PLASTER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS
CONCLUDED ABOUT THE GLOBE
THEATRE
WAS THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE USED
WATTLE AND DAUB IN THE INNER
CITY
BECAUSE THE MATERIALS FOR THE
WATTLE JUST SIMPLY WASN'T
AVAILABLE.
Vila: OH, OK.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE HAND-SPLIT
THE LATHS,
AND DONE THAT SYSTEM AS OPPOSED
TO WATTLE AND DAUB.
BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE, AS
TINA MENTIONED EARLIER,
IS THAT WE HAVE EXPERIMENTED
WITH 4 DIFFERENT MIXES
OF THE OVERALL GENRE, WHICH IS
CALLED LIME PLASTER,
BASICS OF WHICH ARE JUST SIMPLY
SAND,
LIME PUTTY, AND ANIMAL HAIR.
MM-HMM.
THIS PARTICULAR PANEL, BOTH
INSIDE AND OUT, UPPER AND LOWER,
IS THE ORIGINAL MIX THAT WE USED
ON THE GLOBE
AND THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO USE ON
THE ROSE.
Vila: ALL RIGHT. WELL, IT SEEMS
LIKE A VERY AMBITIOUS PROJECT.
YOU FIGURE A COUPLE OF YEARS AT
LEAST, RIGHT?
ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE NOT READY TO
OPEN NEXT WEEK.
GOOD LUCK. TINA, IS THIS THE
FORMER QUONSET--
Packer: THIS IS THE FORMER
QUONSET HUT
THAT NOW IS FOUNDERS' THEATRE.
AND IT'S A WONDERFUL THEATER, A
450-SEAT THEATER.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS A QUONSET
HUT.
AN OLD GYMNASIUM THEY USED IT
FOR AND OTHER THINGS.
AND THE ARCHITECT, GEORGE MARSH
OF PAYETTE, PUT ON A SKIRT,
A WHOLE BAR, YOU KNOW, A
CONCESSION AREA,
AND INSIDE IS A WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL SPACE.
LEFT SHOULDER, CUT!
RIGHT SHOULDER, CUT!
LEFT KNEE...
Vila: SO, TINA, SHAKESPEARE &
COMPANY
IS MORE THAN JUST A PERFORMING
ARTS OPERATION.
IT'S A TEACHING OPERATION AS
WELL.
Packer: YES. WE TEACH HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS;
WE TEACH TEACHERS THEMSELVES.
WE TEACH ACTORS; WE TEACH
DIRECTORS.
WE TEACH JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY.
MM-HMM.
AND REALLY, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING
HERE
IS THAT KEVIN IS TEACHING THESE
STUDENTS FROM LEE HIGH SCHOOL
AND LENOX HIGH SCHOOL
THE BASICS OF ELIZABETHAN
FIGHTING.
ELIZABETHAN FIGHTING.
YES. SO, WE'RE DOING A FESTIVAL
OF HIGH SCHOOL PLAYS RIGHT NOW.
AND THERE ARE ALWAYS FIGHTS IN
SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS,
SO EVERYBODY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND
THE BASICS OF FIGHTING.
BUT IT ALSO MEANS YOU LEARN TO
LOOK AFTER OTHER PEOPLE
BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING VIOLENT
THINGS.
YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH
THEM, NOT REALLY HURT THEM.
VIOLENCE WITHOUT HURTING THEM?
THAT'S RIGHT.
BUT WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING IS
THAT ACTING AND LIFE
IS VERY MUCH IN THESE OLD PLACES
HERE IN THE BERKSHIRES.
ABSOLUTELY.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.
AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BUILDING
PROJECT.
THANK YOU. HA HA HA HA!
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE BEING WITH
YOU.
NEXT WE'LL VISIT THE RESTORATION
OF ELM COURT,
THE LARGEST SHINGLE-STYLE HOUSE
IN AMERICA.
THIS IS ELM COURT.
IT WAS BUILT BY WILLIAM DOUGLAS
SLOANE
AND HIS BRIDE EMILY VANDERBILT
IN 1886.
AND IT'S A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF
PRESERVATION,
SOME ADAPTIVE REUSE, BUT NOT
NECESSARILY CONVERTING A
BUILDING
INTO A SCHOOL OR A PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER.
THIS IS STILL A FAMILY HOME.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING A
CLOSER LOOK IN THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS
AT HOW IT'S BEING SALVAGED.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT
HERE.
THIS IS A SHINGLE-STYLE HOUSE,
AND IT IS THE LARGEST
SHINGLE-STYLE HOUSE IN AMERICA.
IT STARTED OUT AS A 17,000
SQUARE-FOOT HOME
THAT GREW TO 70,000.
AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEARS
WHEN THE FAMILY SUMMERED HERE,
SOMETIMES THERE WERE 70 MEMBERS
OF THE FAMILY IN RESIDENCE.
IN FACT, THEY ADDED A WING HERE,
WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE BACHELOR'S
WING,
AND PART OF IT AS BEEN RESTORED
ON THIS SIDE.
THIS SIDE REALLY LOOKS WONDERFUL
WITH ALL ITS TURRETS
AND THE PORTE-COCHERE AND ALL
THE DIFFERENT ROOFLINES, ET
CETERA.
BUT OVER HERE, YOU STILL SEE
SOME OF THE SHINGLE WORK THAT
HAS SURVIVED,
ALTHOUGH IT STILL NEEDS A LITTLE
BIT OF RESTORATION.
THE MOST INTERESTING THING THAT
I THINK WE'LL FIND HERE
IS THE FACT THAT THE FOURTH
GENERATION DESCENDANT,
THE GREAT-GREAT-GRANDSON OF THE
ORIGINAL OWNERS
HAS MANAGED TO GET AHOLD OF THE
PROPERTY AGAIN.
AND HE AND HIS YOUNG WIFE AND
THEIR 3 DAUGHTERS ARE RESIDING
HERE.
THEY'RE TURNING IT INTO A
FACILITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME
AND GET MARRIED,
PEOPLE CAN COME AND STAY, BUT
THEY'RE ALSO DOING
A REALLY HANDS-ON RESTORATION OF
THE WHOLE PROPERTY,
WORKING AT IT THEMSELVES.
Vila: NEXT WEEK, WE'LL GIVE YOU
A REAL CLOSEUP LOOK
AT SOME OF THE ROOMS THAT
THEY'VE ALREADY RE-CREATED.
UNTIL THEN, I'M BOB VILA. IT'S
GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
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