A special visitor awaited the arrival of children and families this month for Sterling Municipal Library’s Field Trip Story Time at the Lee College Performing Arts Center (PAC): villainous pirate Long John Silver from “Treasure Island,” the classic play that will debut to audiences Thursday, Oct. 29, on the PAC main stage.
Dressed in his swashbuckling best with a classic pirate drawl, Silver hobbled out to greet the group and share a few thoughts about the importance of friendship and sticking up for others — lessons he said he learned from Jim Hawkins, the central character and narrator of “Treasure Island.” Written by Robert Louis Stevenson, the well-known adventure story follows Hawkins, Silver and a band of buccaneers in their search for buried treasure.
“They were all pretty responsive,” said Ryan Martin, production specialist for the PAC who will also portray Long John Silver in the Lee College Players’ upcoming production of the show. “They introduced me and they all hollered my name, chanting Long John Silver.”
Field Trip Story Times is a new program at the Sterling Municipal Library that gives kids the opportunity to hear stories, visit interesting new places and learn about what people do there, said children’s librarian Chazley Dotson. The next field trip will be to the Baytown Historical Museum at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 3.
At the PAC story time, “Treasure Island” director and theater instructor Kim Martin told the children about the arts center and answered their questions about acting, dancing and singing on the stage.
“No one expected to meet a pirate,” Dotson said. “They were in awe. Long John Silver talked to them about searching for buried treasure and how he acquired his pirate hat. One little girl even volunteered to join Long John Silver’s crew. Everyone had a wonderful time.”
“Treasure Island” will be at the PAC from Oct. 29-Nov. 1, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and a 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinee.