From now on, if anyone asks me for the definition of a good sport, I’m going to answer “Betty Mann.”
Betty was willing to portray herself in the “Marlene and Darlene Present the Nutcracker” show at the Palace Theatre on Dec. 22 even though the storyline poked fun at nutcrackers and people like Betty who collect them.
Betty brought down the house with her line, “It’s beautiful,” while admiring the ugliest clown nutcracker ever created. We cracked up again as she showed Norvin the delivery man (Casey McKenzie) the intricate differences between nutcrackers which often go unnoticed by many people.
In real life during the lead-up to the show, Betty got sick, spent time in bed, lost her voice and developed a terrible cough. But she still showed up — script in hand and cough drops in her pocket — ready to practice.
Also during this time, she worked her shifts at the History Center, hosted the History Center children’s Christmas party, sang in the community Christmas choir, played piano at a community memorial service, and had her annual family Christmas gathering.
Did I mention she’s almost 90?
It’s because of Betty that nutcrackers have become a thing in Luverne. A tourism consultant keenly observed that every community needs a “hook” to pull in visitors and for Luverne, the hook could be Betty’s nutcracker display at the History Center.
After hearing the consultant’s suggestion, community members promptly divided into pro- and anti-nutcracker camps. The discussion included nasty conversations about “crazy old ladies” and “ugly nutcrackers.”
Some of the attacks were personal, and, of course, Betty heard them.
But because Betty is kind and gracious and from a generation of people who keep their chins up and their mouths shut, she said nothing.
She didn’t say, “I told you so,” when nearly 3,000 people visited the History Center this year, many in search of the 4,200-piece (nation’s second largest) nutcracker collection.
She also didn’t say anything Sunday as hundreds of people came to enjoy a community theater spoofing nutcrackers.
She just smiled and was, of course, a really good sport.