‘Consider Yourself at Home’

KNOXVILLE – “Consider yourself at home. Consider yourself part of the family.”

From lifelong theater buffs to casual television watchers, this tune from Lionel Bart’s musical, “Oliver!” has bewitched generations since it was first sung at the West End Theatre in London in 1960.

From the high energy to its pure catchiness, once this song is even mentioned, many people cannot help themselves but sing a few verses. But for one Monroe family, these lyrics mean something a little more. Consider it part of their family.

“This was my first performance,” PCM fourth grader, Emilyn Davis said. “It has been good, but it has been really (nerve-racking) for me. I have never done anything like this before. So it is kinda new, but a lot of fun.”

Last week, Emilyn performed on stage with her sister, Eleigh and mother, Janice in the Knoxville Area Community Theatre’s production of “Oliver!” Joined by fellow Monroe fourth grader Jack Kramer, the group sang and danced to several world famous songs in front of friends, family and theater enthusiasts.

Despite only running for four shows Nov. 2-5, the Monroe actors said the Knoxville Area Community Theatre production based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel was an unforgettable experience.

“It was really fun meeting new people and making friends with them along the way,” Jack said.

As “Oliver!” features characters of all ages and sizes, the fall production gave Janice a unique opportunity to share her passion for theater with her seventh and fourth grade daughters. While playing the mean-spirited wife of the undertaker, Mrs. Sowerberry, her daughters said they could not help but laugh when they saw their mother show off her acting chops in the first act.

“I liked when mom went over there and was like ‘What is it?’ and ‘You stupid girl’ (in a cockney accent),” Eleigh said. “Her ‘That’s Your Funeral’ dance moves, oh man.”

The previous year, Janice said she was able to perform with her son, Graham in the group’s staging of “Into The Woods”. With the kids playing a variety of roles from orphans to pickpockets, the mother of four said this staging allowed her to bond with her daughters, create a lifelong memory and encourage them to learn from some truly talented theater veterans.

“You have to work up to their expectations. You have to fill their shoes,” Eleigh said. “They expect a lot of you and it takes a lot of practice, time and effort, but it is definitely worth it.”

The family said Janice has been performing since she was in high school. The Monroe Elementary School reading teacher said music has always played a huge role in their family. Due to the lack of theater opportunities in Monroe, the area actors decided it was worth the drive to Knoxville to be involved in theater.

“Both my husband and I were involved in theater in high school, as well as the music department. It has always been a passion for us and something we wanted to pass down to our children,” Janice said. “We don’t really have the opportunity to do this in Monroe. At PCM, you can start doing this in middle school and high school ... I appreciate that I can do this with my kids.”

Director Marty Adkins said he was glad the Monroe residents decided to share their talents with Knoxville and helped make their show one to remember.

“Knoxville is one little community, but we are part of a broader community. We are all connected together. We are all stronger when people from other communities cross over,” Adkins said. “Through all the rehearsals, production meetings and work days, a wonderful thing happened – a community, you might even say a family, was formed.”

According to the director, Monroe residents Al and Sheryl Vander Linden also played a key part in making the production a reality. Al was the set crew lead, while Sheryl helped with costume and set design.

For more information about the theater troupe, visit knoxvillepac.org, call 641-828-7665 or find Knoxville Area Community Theatre on Facebook.

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@monroelegacy.com.