If you’d asked Duncan Brown 12 months ago if he could relate at all with Gomez Addams, the patriarch of the eponymous — and mightily macabre — Addams Family, you’d have gotten a shake of the head.

But since he found himself in the lead role of the Berrigan Amateur Dramatic Society’s upcoming production of The Addams Family, Duncan’s answer is a little different.

“He’s a bit comfortable in his weirdness, I suppose. I’m probably less so, but I think we’re both a bit weird, and maybe a bit over the top,” the English teacher at Cobram Secondary College told The Courier.

“I think it helps me ... because it’s not unfamiliar to me to be big, and talking loud, and talking fast.”

Next month, Duncan will find himself under lights, sharing the stage with co-star Marissa Daly and a host of other talented local actors.

“It’s got a great energy to it. I’ve probably been really surprised, actually, by how lively the club and the way the town embraces the club is,” he said.

“It’s something a bit different for this area, and it’s a really ambitious show for a club and a town that’s quite small.

“The sets are mind-blowingly good.”

As for Duncan himself, whose road to playing Gomez is paved with years of experience in stand-up improv comedy in the rooms of the University of Melbourne, he’s thrilled to now be able to add ‘musical’ to his resume.

“I mean, it’s definitely been a challenge — the singing — but at the start, I was far less confident than I am now. I feel like it’s built my confidence as I’ve gone on and learned the songs over time,” he said.

For the past few months, Duncan has been busy at rehearsals, learning his dance moves and going through his lines with the other cast — especially Marissa, who plays Gomez’s wife, Morticia Addams.

“I think we both have a very similar philosophy,” Duncan said of his co-star.

“We want to make sure that if we’re not very good, then we want to be not very good for reasons that are beyond our control.”

So committed are the pair to their roles that they’ve racked up countless hours on the stage of Duncan’s living room, running through their scenes.

“We both have worked really well together, working on our scenes and making sure we get the best out of each other,” he said.

“It’s nice to have someone who is taking it at the same level of — not seriousness — but is committed to the role. It’s nice to have that to bounce off.”

Not only is he burning the midnight oil, but Duncan is going one step further in his commitment, confirming he will be swapping his full — luscious, some might say — beard for the moustache for which Gomez is renowned.

“I was surprised, but happy about it — when I was asked by Helen, the director, if I was happy to be Gomez,” he said.

“I like that he (Gomez) is very passionate. I find that enjoyable. And he takes things very seriously, whether it’s his love for his wife, Morticia, or for his children.”

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Sunday, 20th August 2023

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