M.A., A CA-BA-MA-RET

Who doesn’t have a gripe with their mother, in some shape or form? Local performer and writer Maria de Marco is not only unafraid to admit it, but is prepared to massage it out in a room of strangers. Her song-and-dance group therapy is called M.A., A Ca-ba-Ma-Ret (see what she did there?) and will include original ditties as well as those borrowed from the genre’s great songbooks: Sondheim, Kander & Ebb, Billy Joel and more. De Marco tells us more …

What does your mother think about your show?

My mother loves it. Every time I play her in the show, there is a big smile on her face. She doesn’t understand all the English word for word but she lived it with me so she knows the stories, the angst, the joys.

Why do you think family makes for such juicy material?

What do they say, “Truth is stranger than fiction!” An idea or fiction comes from some truth. I believe if you really tapped into family history especially ‘in the dark ages’, when there was no television/ internet/iPhones for families/people  to avoid talking to each other – great drama unfolded. I think with family, they run the gamut of every emotion, seeing the best and the worst of themselves. You never hold back with family. Hence the dramas! Wait for my grandmother’s story – it would give Brooke from Bold and the Beautiful a run for her money.

Sing me a little bit of one of your songs …

The song entitled Guilt. This was and probably still is my mother’s favourite weapon/punishment.

After all I’ve given you

She says

After all I’ve done for you

All those years of cosiness and warmth

All those days of laughter,

All those nights of tenderness

When I caressed

Your fears

All those years of harmony we shared

Because we cared

Have made you cold

I know I’m old

And in despair

You think that’s fair?

She asks?

What did you learn in the process of writing M.A. – your ‘Ca-ba-ma-ret’?

The truth behind my grandmother’s story, my mother’s own pain growing up and why she is the way she is. Writing a cabaret about oneself is a cheap form of therapy. Write it all down and you really get to take a good look  at yourself, the good, the bad, the ugly.

And finally, what word of advice would you give to all mums out there?

Just tell your children you love them no matter what and you have to say the words ‘I love you’! And don’t forget to hug your mother!

Jun 29-Jul 10, Newtown Theatre, cnr King & Bray Sts, $22-28, 8019 0294, newtowntheatre.com.au