They say there’s a first time for everything — and for Marissa Daly, this year has brought a bagful of novelty.

After a 15-year hiatus, Marissa has made her return to the world of the dramatic arts, stepping into the leading role of Morticia Addams in the Berrigan Amateur Dramatic Society’s production of The Addams Family.

Marissa confessed to a few initial nerves in the early days of rehearsals.

“When I started, it was quite terrifying, and I thought, ‘Oh, I don’t know’,” Marissa said.

“But as it’s come along, I feel much better about it. And I think it’s really about performing. I don’t profess to be a great singer, but I think if you get up there and put a show on for the audience, they’re not going to be like, ‘oh, well, that word was out of key’. I think they’ll respond that you’ve clearly worked hard and had a go at it.”

Not only is it also Marissa’s first foray into a ‘serious’ musical, but she is joined by her nine-year-old son, Lawson, who will take to the stage as the seriously hairy Cousin Itt.

“He was helping out with the curtains, helping out backstage; he was giving the director a few tips and helping with lunch. So he’s been really involved,” Marissa said.

“It’s good to see him interested.”

It might be her first venture into a musical like The Addams Family.

But it’s by no means Marissa’s first rodeo.

A product of the famed drama program at Assumption College in Kilmore, Marissa had already racked up a solid resume even before she was able to vote.

Later, back in her native Berrigan, she involved herself in as many productions with the Society as she could.

Her last performance, in 2010, was Act Your Age, directed by Helen Dickie, who also directs The Addams Family.

Marissa was excited to get the chance to work alongside her and co-star Duncan Brown.

“He’s great,” Marissa said.

“I think because he’s had lots of experience in drama and theatre recently, whereas I used to do a lot of drama and theatre 15 years ago, and haven’t done some for a while, it’s been good to have someone who has been recently in that zone because it gives you that little bit of confidence.”

Playing someone with as large a personality as Morticia’s is also new territory for Marissa.

“I think she’s someone who you wouldn’t forget,” she said of the matriarch.

“She’s quite self-confident, she’s definitely got some tickets on herself and is very confident in the family’s and her husband’s adoration of her.”

Returning to the theatre has been some kind of family home-coming.

“Kind of the reason I joined back up again this year was my mum is in Berrigan, so it’s good to spend a bit more time up there,” Marissa said.

“She comes down and watches rehearsals.”

How does she feel, now that bump-in is less than two weeks away?

“Terrifying to start, but it’s good fun now,” she said.

“I’m a bit nervous because people keep saying, ‘Oh, it’s going to be really good. I’m like, ‘just let’s everyone temper our expectations’. But yeah, look, it’s fun. As I said, at the start, it was a bit terrifying, but now I think it’s going to be fun.

“Even in the last week, I’ve come into it like, ‘This is my role, these are my songs’. You’ve really got to own them and go with it.”

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Saturday, 29th July 2023

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