Parrot actor , Jack Sprat , perches on the shoulder of actor Peter Bayliss during todays rehearsal of , ' Treasure Island ' at the Mermaid Theatre in the City of London . The parrot is faced with the problem of who does he belong to , Bayliss who plays Long John Silver , or bearded Joss Ackland who also plays Long John Silver . Fortunately for Jack , both actors wont be on stage together for , although they share the role , due to the physical demands of the part they will play the role on alternate days . The play opens tomorrow night for the Christmas season . 17th December 1963