And she’s all grown up.
Eighteen-year-old Wednesday Addams, one of the leading characters in Echuca-Moama Theatre Company’s production of The Addams Family, has chopped off her long plaits and is in love.
And Echuca’s Britney Evans, 19, is looking forward to bringing that softer side to her starring role.
‘‘I’m hoping to bring a bit of complexity to Wednesday,’’ Britney said.
‘‘My initial thought of Wednesday was that she had this hard exterior like Morticia but she’s also got her father’s softness and I’m really interested to see how that comes out when she’s around (her boyfriend) Lucas. She almost melts in a way.’’
The Addams Family musical is based on the original story of a night when Wednesday’s new normal boyfriend Lucas comes to dinner, along with his very straight and respectable parents.
In one fateful, hilarious night, secrets are disclosed, relationships are tested, and the Addams family must face up to the one horrible thing they’ve managed to avoid for generations: change.
‘‘Because I never had that knowledge of Wednesday to start with, I watched videos of her on YouTube and found out she was a quietly intelligent but sassy character which I thought was really cool,’’ Britney said.
‘‘To see her going from that little five-year-old girl to then on-the-stage performance as an 18-year-old I thought would be a really interesting development of that character.’’
Addams director Luke Westley said casting Britney as Wednesday was a no-brainer.
‘‘For two years, different people had been gushing to me about Britney’s on stage talent. When she auditioned for us I could understand why,’’ he said.
‘‘Britney is as good as any Wednesday Addams I’ve seen on stage, across the globe, including Broadway.
‘‘A true triple threat, she brings Wednesday to life beautifully with such subtleness and it’s even nicer to work with someone who is just a humble and awesome human.’’
Britney is no stranger to the stage — this is her ninth show — her most recent leading roles being Ursula in The Little Mermaid and Penny Pingleton in Hairspray.
‘‘I’ve been doing shows since I was 12. I’ve grown up in this company,’’ she said.
And she is super excited to to bring The Addams Family to life and showcase the enormous local talent.
‘‘Rehearsals are intense. I’m finding I’m being pushed every rehearsal to do something bigger and better,’’ she said.
‘‘The support system are incredible. Luke is always there to make you feel you are on the right track and it’s just a lot of fun.
‘‘The cast is so amazing. You’re never sitting on the sidelines thinking of what to do because there’s always something or someone on stage that’s blowing your mind.’’
■The Addams Family will be held at the Paramount from May 24 to June 1.
Tickets are on sale at the Paramount.
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