You’ve probably heard of Pirates of the Caribbean and may have heard of the recent attacks by pirates off the coast of Somalia. But pirates in Johnston? It’s too far inland, but that won’t stop the Rhode Island Pirate Players – including Captain Atwood – from invading the Mohr Library on May 16. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. on the library’s grounds.

The Rhode Island Pirate Players are a living history group, dedicated to accurate representations of seafaring life in the 17th and 18th centuries.

“The only other library they’ve been to is Providence, but they are local,” said Grayce Moorehead, director of adult programming and associate director of the library. “They’ve already spoken to the Johnston Police and got permission to fire muskets. They’re going to have examples of ‘hard tack’ and smoked pork at the encampment.”

“They were also talking to [Parks & Recreation Director] Dan Mazzulla about doing a dory thing in the park,” she added.

Moorehead has become excited about the upcoming program, and her excitement has been contagious; pirate-related activities for all ages have been added to the event, which is also geared to all ages.

A book sale, sponsored by the Friends of Mohr Library, will be held on the same day, on the southern part of the library’s front lawn. The pirates will be encamped on the back lawn.

“I’m hoping there will be lots and lots of people everywhere,” said Moorehead.

Moorehead has also recently ordered new books about pirates for the library’s collection. According to Captain Atwood, in addition to the performance there will be several educational displays. They include a kitchen tent along with a tripod and hanging cauldron for a demonstration of cooking techniques used in early 18th century field cooking; a crew's tent, set up with period sleepwear and some personal effects “to show how sea rovers could camp in comfort when the opportunity arose;” and a weapons tent, set up with a display of historic weapons and tools that were used by sea rovers in the 18th century.

Members of the crew will also conduct several black powder demonstrations, firing blank charges from period replica weapons. The weapons are noisy but harmless, although they did obtain permission from the Johnston Police Department to fire them.

A hand-drawn map of Narragansett Bay – what it would have looked like in 1709 – will also be on display, as well as other antique navigational tools.

The group was also considering setting up a recruitment table as well. Members of the crew will “maintain their personas” and will be happy to talk with visitors to the camp, who are encouraged to bring cameras.

Another display – a dory – had been in the planning stages, to be held on the same day at Johnston’s Memorial Park, but it was still unfinished as of Monday.

“With any luck, some of the crew will raise their tempers and fight with swords for the public's amusement. Also, we shall have an encampment set up where some of the crew shall be speaking bout life at sea for a pirate, and the history of pirates in Rhode Island,” said Captain Atwood.

Casey Dorman, the “civilian name” of Captain Atwood, founded the group in 2004. He was elected “Captain for Life” in absentia (a meeting he couldn’t attend) by his crew.

He is distantly related to the early Atwoods of Johnston. “They’re relatives of mine, far removed,” he said; Atwood is his mother’s maiden name.

The performance is funded through a legislative grant from Sen. Christopher Maselli.

“We are very appreciative that we have received a grant to have such an educational, instructive, fascinating and engaging afternoon for our patrons,” said Moorehead.

The group has appeared in parades in Pawtucket, Warwick and Providence and most recently at Smith’s Castle. Upcoming events include an encampment at the Gaspee Day Parade and Festival in Warwick in June. For more information, visit their Web site, www.ripirateplayers.org, “or RIPiratePlayers.arrrrg,” kids Captain Atwood.

The rain date for the event will be Saturday, May 30.