Alma’s turn to sing

After all the hype surrounding Brokeback Mountain and the slew of awards it won last year, Margi de Ferranti decided the time had come have some fun with the movie.

While watching it again, de Ferranti came up with the idea of telling the story from the point of view of Ennis’s long-suffering wife, Alma Del Mar, as played in the movie by Michelle Williams.

With a stack of Burt Bacharach songs to add a new slant to the story, de Ferranti began writing a new show.

The result is Bacharach Mountin’, which has been playing at Yipiyiyo for the past weeks to enthusiastic audiences, and has now been extended to the end of June.

The more we got into pulling this show together, the more it just flowed, de Ferranti says.

It is the story of Brokeback, as told through the eyes of the wife searching for her husband while he is constantly away fishing.

Alma has her say about what has been happening, and sings a host of Bacharach songs, which I have played with a bit.

For instance, Wishin’ And Hopin’ becomes Fishin’ And Pokin’, and I Say A Little Prayer is about her concerns that Ennis is spending too much time on his knees. Other songs include Anyone Who Had A Heart, Walk On By and Always Something There To Remind Me.

De Ferranti, the star of such musical hits as Mamma Mia and Chess, is busily making her return to performing this year after taking time out last year due to ill health.

Her recent comeback show at the Statement Lounge Bar, This Joint Is Jumping, recounted the experiences of her hip replacement surgery in hilarious and vivid detail.

With her own life so wildly presented for send-up, de Ferranti admits she had no hesitations about using Alma’s sad and tragic experiences for the sake of Bacharach Mountin’.

Yipiyiyo audiences know what to expect -“ it is often not-so-tasteful comedy, she laughs.

Brokeback has had such an impact and I think it is ripe to have some fun with it.

Alma’s is a tragic part of the story and I have had a good time poking fun at it, but I also make sure she gets a happy ending. The audiences with a camp sense of humour have been whooping along with it and it goes off a treat.

Bacharach Mountin’ plays Wednesdays at Yipiyiyo, 290 Crown St, Darlinghurst. Bookings on 9332 3114.