The Heavenly Pearl Sails Off Again!

We just concluded the 2010 version of "Pirates in Paradise" VBS. The curriculum and original skits were written and first staged here at COTS in 2007, followed by "The Good Shepherd of the Outback" in 2008. Last year, we had planned to create a sequel to the "Pirates," but that didn't come off due to a shortage of volunteers in the morning. This year we made two strategic decisions; the first was to offer VBS in the evening (so as to get more volunteers), and the second was to stage the VBS in the Recreation Center of a couple housing projects on the north end of town. Although my personal preference continues to be for a morning VBS in our church building, it is hard to argue with the results--we had 20+ volunteers each night and a total of 60 kids who participated in the VBS this summer. What exactly this leads to remains to be seen, but I am hoping to see our church commit to some sort of follow-up, with the possibility of eventually planting a church in that neighborhood.

The biggest creative challenge in revising the script this year was in shortening the storyline from five to four days. Previously, in doing a morning VBS, we had the closing program for the parents the evening of the final day, and it was felt by the team that we needed to the keep the final evening as a summary of the story for the parents' sake, wrapping up the actual storyline on Thursday night. In retrospect, I think I would argue for returning to the five-day format, as there were very few parents who actually attended, and I think it best to send the kids off with an exciting conclusion to the story, rather than a recap in which nothing dramatic happens.

I also added two more pirates, because we had two individuals who were inexperienced actors but well-know to the kids in the village (or at least, better known than the rest of our team). It seemed worthwhile to get them up front for the dramas, but I will be dropping back to my original three pirates in the future (the Captain and two crew members. Amongst other things, the stage got very crowded with five pirates (ESPECIALLY in the cramped space of the Rec. Center), and there was no good way to work the additional characters into the climax of the show.

Personally, the biggest challenge was for me to assume the role of Milligan, the island host to the visiting children and Pirates. This character was originally written for a friend named Travis, who is extremely gifted as an actor, a teacher, and someone who has a natural gift of rapport with children. Travis also has a wonderfully peaceful demeanor, which is required for this character--he does not allow the pirates to ruffle or rile him up in any way. My own approach to acting is generally to throw myself into a character, generally very different from myself, and it helps if I can channel my own nervousness about being onstage into a nervous or angry character (which is why I originally cast myself as the Pirate Captain, Harry DuPillage). Breaking down the "fourth wall" to relate to the audience, remaining relaxed and trying to calm others, all while wearing shorts and beach shoes (which I would NEVER do offstage, except on the beach!) was QUITE a challenge to me as an actor. I think I succeeded, overall...

If nothing else, we certainly hammered the memory verses into the kids. A portion of each skit involves Milligan teaching the verse of the day to the the children and his pet parrot, Paolo. But Allie, who acted as M.C., would review the verse before the skit, and Pam, who led the music, would have the kids all SING the verses after the skit. Not that any of that was a bad idea (I was especially appreciative of the fact that Pam WROTE some original music to put to some of the verses), but these kids should CERTAINLY know by now that they should store up "treasure in heaven" rather than "treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves"--or Pirates!--"can break in and steal."

The story ends with the majority of the pirates abandoning piracy, claiming the King's Royal Pardon, and voting off the Captain and any others who want to remain pirates, rechristening their ship from "The Bloody Gem" to "The Heavenly Pearl" and sailing off as missionaries to spread the news of the Royal Pardon to pirates and other sinners they may encounter. Which prepares us for "The Continuing Adventures of the Heavenly Pearl" and a missions-themed VBS I have yet to write!