Goosebumps.

“Sometimes I can feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up and when I feel that I know I’m delivering the song properly,” she said. “But, to me, I have to convince myself.”

Mary is currently rehearsing the role of Fantine in Taree Arts Council’s November production of Les Misérables and has been getting to know her character over the past few months.

“It’s very, very sad. She gives up everything for her daughter so she can survive. It’s very hard but it’s beautiful in a way,” she said.

The song Fantine is most well-known for is the heartbreaking I Dreamed a Dream.

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It’s a song Mary had been familiar with and has performed for an audience with accompanist Bob Berrigan previously.

“When I was just singing it I didn’t know the story behind it. I was just assuming and my understanding of the song wasn’t really there.”

She’s coming at it now with more knowledge.

“It takes so much energy and mental strength and you just get carried away. I’ve got a daughter too so I relate to it.

“I usually just sing it with all my heart, I don’t want to fake emotion but instead put everything into it and deliver the message as best I can."

This is the third time Mary has appeared in a Taree Arts Council production, with previous performances as Kim in 2010’s Miss Saigon and Mrs Corry in 2015’s Mary Poppins.

Growing up in a musical family, she has been singing since she was a child but has had no formal vocal training.

“My mum was a singer...it was part of our culture that we would gather and sing as a family.”

Her older sister (Mary is the fifth of eight children, although sadly her second brother died) had formal singing lessons and Mary would listen to the voice teacher from her bedroom. “It got me into singing.”

She sang in a church choir on and off from the age of 11 and was a member of a cultural group in the Philippines for 10 years, performing around the country until the age of 26, when she moved to Australia with her husband.

Mary arrived in Taree from Bacolod City, located in the middle of the Visayas region of the Philippines, in November 2008.

She loves singing and occasionally performs with Bob Berrigan, at weddings and seniors events. Mary has previously volunteered her time to entertain residents at St Paul’s Hostel and performed at her daughter’s preschool for Harmony Day.

“For me singing takes me to another world. When I’m singing all the problems are left behind and I am in a world at peace.

“Music is just beautiful. You touch someone’s soul when you’re singing.”

She has enjoyed working with the Les Misérables cast, saying, “I think everyone is amazing, we all get along so well. There’s so many talented people in Taree and to be chosen to be one of the characters is great. I’m so grateful they (director Gayle Cameron and musical director Don Secomb) have so much trust in me. It’s going to be a great show.”

Les Misérables is on at the Manning Entertainment Centre, Taree, from November 2 to 18. Tickets are available from www.theMEC.com.au and Stockland Forster.