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November 26, 2003
Life of local icon Marta Becket honoredDEATH VALLEY CHAMBER HOSTS TRIBUTE TO BALLERINA
By RICHARD STEPHENS
Nearly 80 invited guests, plus family members of the performers attended the invitation-only tea and program. Becket, a former dancer on Broadway, discovered Death Valley Junction when she had a flat tire there in the spring of 1967. She refurbished a former Pacific Coast Borax Company social hall, which had been vacant since the 1940s, into the Amargosa Opera House. Now 79, Becket performs every Saturday night at the opera house in the winter months. Both the opera house and adjoining hotel are on the National Register of Historic Places. Kari Coughlin, who acted as master of ceremonies, joked that she was envious that one person could have as many talents as Becket, and the program was designed to parallel a number of them. A keyboard performance by Angelique Stefanelli and songs by Sydney Wilson represented Becket's instrumental and singing talents. Dance was characterized by performances from young dancers from the Fossemalle Dance School and Company of Santa Ynez, Calif., and the Artistic Dance and Gymnastic Studio of Pahrump. Acting was symbolized by a tribute and mime performance from actor Kenneth Best, who credited Becket with inspiring him when he was a nine-year-old boy living at Death Valley Junction. "The most important thing I learned from Marta is to love what you do," said Best. Coughlin read a letter from a colleague who danced with Becket in New York. He not only wrote of her great dancing ability, but also said that he and just about every other guy had wanted to date Marta, who was quite a beauty, but her mother was always waiting at the stage door. Coughlin said that Marta's painting ability proved a bit awkward to represent in the program, but she did remember her writing talent with a tribute poem. Marta's stage partner Tom Willett was also recognized. Characteristically, Willet could not resist the opportunity to clown when he was called up to the lectern. Among other things, he denied ever wearing a tutu on stage, saying that he had had to instruct Becket to make his a four-four. The program ended with everyone present singing a song about Marta to the tune of "He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Afterwards the crowd gave Marta an enthusiastic and prolonged standing ovation. "I'm so grateful to Death Valley Junction for being there, where I could create my world, and for the old social hall which became my opera house," said Becket. "And I'm so grateful that after 35 years I don't have to worry about a full house: it's just there. I only wish I were twenty years old again." Mark Waite contributed to this story. |
