I put on my performance dress. My heart-surgery scar shows above the neckline, but it is now so faint that you would not see it if you didn't know it was there.
We are ready to present "Australia and Brazil with Bossa".
We all set off together on foot for Beco das Garrafas. Arriving at the venue, Mara takes me in through the back way, and we wait together in the upstairs Green Room until it's time for the show.
Mara helps me in every way. She engages me in quiet conversation; keeps me settled. She fastens my shoes, carries my belongings and helps me down the steep steps so I don't fall. She leads me through the small room where another show is in progress, and into Bottles Bar.
Our job here is to provide two hours of musical entertainment, from 10 pm until midnight, with a short break in the middle.
Enéias and Junior are on stage and they open the show with an original song by Enéias which speaks of the Bossa Nova music we are about to play.
Junior is elegant in suit and tie. Enéias is wearing the Bossa Nova T-shirt he bought at the music shop next door, together with his trademark fedora hat.
Enéias introduces me, and suddenly I'm on!
I greet the audience, then I ask in English if anyone speaks English. There is no answer - then someone calls out "Spanish!". Right. So there is no point speaking in English. I will have to leave it up to Enéias to talk to them in Portuguese.
It's a small audience but they are attentive and appreciative.
This feels like a dream. I'm singing all my favourite songs in their birthplace of Rio de Janeiro. We are standing on the same stage where the Bossa Nova greats performed in the 1960's.
The first set passes quickly, and it's time for our break. Enéias is a bit concerned. He says we'll need to slow down a bit, or we'll run out of songs.
During the break, I say hello to some people in the audience. I chat with a group from Argentina. They express their enthusiasm for our music, and they say they can understand what I'm saying to them in Portuguese.
Suddenly it hits me. What we need in the second half is "patter"! I can speak Portuguese. Even the Spanish speakers can understand my Portuguese. And I've been to cabaret school.
Quick, think of some things to say!
Here I go, fuelled by adrenaline and the half-glass of wine I've drunk during the break. I take to the microphone and say whatever comes into my head:
"In Australia, Enéias sang this song to my dog"
"I was sure the Kangaroo song was about me, but Enéias says it's about a kangaroo!"
"Here in Rio we have made a pilgrimage to all the historic Bossa Nova places"
"This is my husband's favourite song" (it's not; he doesn't like this song- it's a running joke between us, and I look meaningfully in his direction).
"Over here is Marlí - our Girl from Ipanema!"
I manage to make them laugh.
Near the end of the show, we perform a song called "Só danço samba" ("I only dance Samba") and I call for the audience to join in. Then I remember that Junior does dance the Samba. I invite him to come forward and give a demonstration. He performs wonderfully, still playng his pandeiro, and the audience loves it. I ask him to teach me, and we dance together briefly.
Soon the show is over. My voice worked, and I have not coughed all night - not once.
We all embrace - we did it! Conseguimos!
And we have one more day together in Rio, to relax and enjoy the Marvellous City.
We are ready to present "Australia and Brazil with Bossa".
We all set off together on foot for Beco das Garrafas. Arriving at the venue, Mara takes me in through the back way, and we wait together in the upstairs Green Room until it's time for the show.
Mara helps me in every way. She engages me in quiet conversation; keeps me settled. She fastens my shoes, carries my belongings and helps me down the steep steps so I don't fall. She leads me through the small room where another show is in progress, and into Bottles Bar.
Our job here is to provide two hours of musical entertainment, from 10 pm until midnight, with a short break in the middle.
Enéias and Junior are on stage and they open the show with an original song by Enéias which speaks of the Bossa Nova music we are about to play.
Junior is elegant in suit and tie. Enéias is wearing the Bossa Nova T-shirt he bought at the music shop next door, together with his trademark fedora hat.
Enéias introduces me, and suddenly I'm on!
I greet the audience, then I ask in English if anyone speaks English. There is no answer - then someone calls out "Spanish!". Right. So there is no point speaking in English. I will have to leave it up to Enéias to talk to them in Portuguese.
It's a small audience but they are attentive and appreciative.
This feels like a dream. I'm singing all my favourite songs in their birthplace of Rio de Janeiro. We are standing on the same stage where the Bossa Nova greats performed in the 1960's.
The first set passes quickly, and it's time for our break. Enéias is a bit concerned. He says we'll need to slow down a bit, or we'll run out of songs.
During the break, I say hello to some people in the audience. I chat with a group from Argentina. They express their enthusiasm for our music, and they say they can understand what I'm saying to them in Portuguese.
Suddenly it hits me. What we need in the second half is "patter"! I can speak Portuguese. Even the Spanish speakers can understand my Portuguese. And I've been to cabaret school.
Quick, think of some things to say!
Here I go, fuelled by adrenaline and the half-glass of wine I've drunk during the break. I take to the microphone and say whatever comes into my head:
"In Australia, Enéias sang this song to my dog"
"I was sure the Kangaroo song was about me, but Enéias says it's about a kangaroo!"
"Here in Rio we have made a pilgrimage to all the historic Bossa Nova places"
"This is my husband's favourite song" (it's not; he doesn't like this song- it's a running joke between us, and I look meaningfully in his direction).
"Over here is Marlí - our Girl from Ipanema!"
I manage to make them laugh.
Near the end of the show, we perform a song called "Só danço samba" ("I only dance Samba") and I call for the audience to join in. Then I remember that Junior does dance the Samba. I invite him to come forward and give a demonstration. He performs wonderfully, still playng his pandeiro, and the audience loves it. I ask him to teach me, and we dance together briefly.
Soon the show is over. My voice worked, and I have not coughed all night - not once.
We all embrace - we did it! Conseguimos!
And we have one more day together in Rio, to relax and enjoy the Marvellous City.
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