Hi, Rebecca Shear here. Before we get to our story, exciting news.
Circle Round is going back on tour. with live recordings across the united states our first stop Sunday, October 5th in Parker, Colorado at the Pace Center.
And Circle Round Club members are invited to a special post-show meet and greet with me and composer Eric Shimalonis.
Get your tickets at wbur.org slash circle around and click on events.
We're announcing more tour stops soon, so stay tuned.
We look forward to circling around with you live.
Produced by the iLab at WBUR Boston. Do you have a piggy bank?
If so, how do you decide whether you'll save a coin in your bank? or spend it?
Well, we're about to meet a farmer whose answer to this question makes a very big impression.
On the King. I'm Rebecca Sheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time.
Today our story is called The King's Face.
Versions of this tale come from a bunch of places, including Greece, Hungary and Italy, India and Russia, parts of East Africa and modern-day Iran.
Some really great people came together to bring you our version of this folktale. including Broadway stars Derek Baskin and Brandon Uranowitz.
Derek has taken the stage in the 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and the Little Mermaid and is currently starring in Ain't Too Proud, The Life and Times of the Temptations, for which he received a Tony Award nomination in 2017. in 2019.
And Brandon Uranowitz has received three Tony nominations for An American in Paris, falsettos and burn this.
So circle around, everyone. for the king's face.
There once was a prince who became king.
The moment the new king assumed the throne, his life was a whirlwind.
When the royal jewelers weren't fitting him for a crown, the royal tailors were measuring him for a robe.
When the royal chefs weren't offering him a dish, the royal artist was sketching him. so the royal engravers could stamp his face onto each and every coin in the kingdom.
Then there were the royal advisors, who were always telling the new king exactly what he should do.
Your Highness. You're so lucky to have us around.
You just got this job. What? we've been working in this palace forever.
So clearly, we know what's best for you.
And for your people. After all, we are the Royal Advisors!
But the new king wasn't so sure. These royal advisors, when's the last time they've stepped foot outside the palace?
Do they actually know anything about everyday life in this kingdom?
Have they ever even spoken with one of my subjects?
If I'm going to be a fair ruler, I need to know how my citizens live.
How they get by, what they want, and what they need.
Not what a bunch of high and mighty fuss budgets whisper in my ear.
So the new king devised a plan. He would disguise himself as a commoner. and travel across the kingdom so that he could observe the day-to-day life of his people.
When the advisors heard this idea, they smirked and rolled their eyes.
With all due respect, Your Excellency...
You're actually going to meet your subjects?
Face to face? Those commoners aren't smart enough to know what they want.
Or what they need. That's why we're here.
We decide for them. We're far more clever than any of them could ever be. ever be.
After all... We are the royal advisors.
But the new king was determined. He put on some faded overalls and work boots, mounted his horse, and galloped away from the palace.
As the sun blazed down from a bright blue sky, the disguised king encountered a farmer digging up weeds in a field.
The man was so immersed in his work that he didn't hear the hoofbeats thumping toward him. then shuffling to a halt good morning sir The farmer glanced up, then leapt to his feet and bowed down low.
Good morning, your majesty. The king was surprised.
Your Majesty? How did you know it was me?
I'm wearing a disguise. That's easy, sire.
Your face gave you away. It's engraved on every coin in the kingdom.
The king smiled. So it is. Listen, I'm sure you're plenty busy, but I'd love to ask you a few questions.
I assume you're a farmer by trade, yes? I am, your majesty.
Do you enjoy your work? I do, Your Majesty.
And how much money do you earn in one week?
The farmer held up three fingers. Three silver coins, Your Majesty.
And what do you do with those three silver coins?
The farmer scratched his chin. Well, the first coin I eat.
The second coin, I loan out. And the third coin, I give back.
A puzzled look spread across the king's face.
I'm sorry, but I don't understand. How do you explain this riddle?
The farmer chuckled. Well, your majesty.
When I say I eat the first coin, what I mean is I use it to feed myself.
To buy myself food. I loan out the second coin because I use it to feed my children.
They're the ones who will support me later on when I'm grizzled and gray.
The king's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
And the third coin, the one you give back, well...
That third coin goes to my mother to repay her for everything she's done for me.
So, in other words... You're giving it back!
Of course! The king was impressed by the cleverness of this not-so-common commoner.
Very impressed, he began to hatch a plan Listen, farmer This riddle you've shared with me, promise me you will not tell the answer to anyone else.
At least not until you've seen my face 100 times.
Do I have your word? Of course, your majesty.
I won't tell the answer to anyone. until I've seen your face?
One hundred times. Good. Farewell then, farmer.
Peace be with you. Then the new king started his horse and trotted back to the palace. where he summoned his royal advisors to the throne room for a very important meeting.
What do you think the king is plotting? We'll find out what happens next after a quick break.
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Hiring? Indeed is all you need. and I'm Rebecca Shearer.
Welcome back to Circle Round. Today our story is called The King's Face.
When we left off, a new king had assumed the throne, and along with his royal crown and ropes, he inherited a team of royal advisors.
The advisors had lived and worked in the palace for years.
And the king worried they were out of touch with what was happening outside those great stone walls.
So the king donned a disguise and headed into the kingdom to observe how his subjects lived.
In the fields, he met a farmer who told the king a riddle.
The king made the farmer promise not to tell anyone the solution to the riddle. until he had seen the king's face 100 times.
Then the king galloped back to the palace and asked his royal advisors to gather round.
Ladies and gentlemen, I've returned from my travels with a riddle.
Whoever can answer this riddle will be promoted to the position of chief advisor.
The advisor's eyes lit up. A riddle, your highness?
We love riddles. Surely we'll know the answer.
After all... We are the Royals! I know, I know.
You are the royal advisors. But believe it or not, I actually heard this riddle from one of my people. an average everyday citizen, a farmer whom I encountered while he was pulling weeds in the hot sun.
This farmer, I learned, earned three silver coins a week.
When I asked what he does with those three coins, he answered me as follows.
The first coin he eats. The second coin...
He loans out. And the third coin he gives back.
Tell me the meaning of the farmer's words and you will be my new chief advisor.
The advisors spent the next day racking their brains.
This riddle is a tough nut to crack. I'd say it's downright impossible.
I'll tell you what's impossible. that a simple farmer could be more clever than we are.
I know. After all, we ARE the Royal Advisors, right?
Eventually, the advisors decided that if they wanted to solve the riddle, they would have to track down the farmer.
So they stole away with the king's horse and had the animal retrace its steps to the farmer's field.
It was drizzling outside, so by the time they got there, Their long robes were damp, and their fancy shoes were splattered with mud.
Excuse us, farmer. We're wondering if you can help us out.
Not long ago, did you, by any chance, meet the king?
The farmer glanced up from his weeding. Why, yes.
I did. And did you, by any chance, tell the king...
A riddle? About how you spend your three silver coins each week?
In fact, I did. The advisors grinned. But His Majesty made me...
Promise not to tell anyone the answer. The advisors grimaced.
Then one of them reached into the horse's saddlebag. and pulled out a large silk purse.
This purse... Contains 100 silver coins. each one newly minted with the king's royal face. we will give you the whole kit and caboodle.
If you tell us the answer to your riddle.
The farmer gazed at the purse. His eyes twinkled.
Well... I don't need 100 silver coins, but...
I'll take 99. The advisors were confused by the farmer's request, but they counted out 99 silver coins and handed them over.
The farmer peered at each and every coin before dropping it into his leather satchel Then, once all 99 coins were stashed away in the farmer's bag, He told the advisors the answer to his riddle.
Without delay, the advisors rushed back to the palace, where they proudly shared the solution with the king.
You solved the farmer's riddle? How in the world did you figure it out?
Only the farmer himself could know the answer.
As the king stared at the advisors, He noticed their sodden clothing, and the mud spattered all over their fancy shoes.
Wait a minute. Have you been out of the palace, riding around the kingdom, to a certain field where a certain someone was weeding, perhaps.
The advisors caved in and told the king everything, how they had tracked down the farmer. and how they had traded 99 silver coins for the solution to his riddle.
Immediately, the king ordered his guards to bring the farmer to the palace.
When the humble man arrived, the king jabbed a trembling finger toward his face.
You! You weren't supposed to tell anyone the answer to your riddle.
Not until you've seen my face 100 times.
The farmer shrugged. I know that, your majesty.
But the truth is... I have seen your face 100 times.
King's jaw dropped. What are you talking about?
We've only met once. Yes, your majesty. We have only met once.
But I've definitely seen your face 100 times.
One time, when we first met. And 99 times this very morning.
What?! ! That's absurd. You didn't see my face this morning and definitely not 99 times.
There was a glint in the farmer's eye as he held up his leather satchel, and gave the bag a gentle shake.
Your Majesty. This satchel contains ninety-nine silver coins.
Your advisors were kind enough to give them to me.
And when they did, I saw all 99 coins. and all ninety-nine of them bear an engraving of your royal face!
Therefore, you have seen my face 100 times.
Of course. After that day, the farmer became the king's chief advisor.
His only advisor, actually. The king offered his former advisors a new position— planting and weeding out in the royal fields.
When the farmer moved into the palace to start his new job, he didn't come alone.
He brought his children and his mother with him.
And even though his new royal salary was a wee bit A little larger than three silver coins, he continued splitting his earnings into three parts.
One he ate, one he loaned out, and one he gave back.
Hmm. Now it's your turn. The farmer used his third coin to pay back his mother.
The loving person who raised him. What's something you can do to show appreciation for a grown-up who's raising you?
Find a piece of paper and draw a picture of how you might say thanks.
Once you've finished your picture, show it to your grownup then have them share it with us on Instagram.
Our Instagram handle is at CircleRoundPodcast.
This week's story, The King's Face, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear.
It was edited by Katherine Brewer. Circle Round's original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis.
You can find The Music of Circle Round, Volume 1, Eric's compilation of music from our first season of the podcast. on iTunes, Amazon, and the CD Baby Store.
To learn more, visit our website, wbor.org. and click on soundtrack and coloring pages.
While you're there, you can also find, yes, our coloring pages.
Our artist, Sabina Hahn, has drawn a black and white picture for every Circle Round story, and you can color all of them in.
Again, that's wbur.org slash circleround.
Special thanks to this week's actors. John Bell Laura Gardner Tom Whaley Lisa Ewan Derek Baskin, and Brandon Uranowitz.
If you're in New York, look for Derek Baskin at the Imperial Theater in Ain't Too Proud.
The Life and Times of the Temptations. And grown-ups, you can see Brandon Uranowitz on the big screen in The Kitchen. starring Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, and Elizabeth Moss.
And he's an absolute hoot in the Amazon original series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
This week's featured instrument was the kithara.
You can learn more about this ancient Greek harp and see a picture on our website.
Once more, that's wbur.org slash circle around.
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us.
As you're listening to Circle Around right now, did you know that you're not alone?
That's right. Hundreds of thousands of other kids are listening too, all over the world.
And many of them have sent us recordings where they talk about their favorite Circle Round stories.
Have a listen. Maybe one of their stories is one of yours too.
My name is Neil. I live in Massachusetts.
My favourite story is Stella the Powerful.
Hello, I'm Nate and I'm from Ashburn, Virginia.
And my favorite story is the one where the rice cakes are rolling down the hill.
I like you guys. My name is Lisa, and I'm in my favorite podcast.
It's Santa with the braces. Hey, Rabbit, what's up?
Hi, my name is Olivia. I'm from Berkeley, California.
And my favorite circle round is Stella and the Dragon.
Hi, my name is Olivia. I am five years old I live in Cameron Park, California.
I like Stella and the dragon. I like the part when Stella said, She was so strong that she could hit the moon with the boulder.
Did someone mention an episode you missed?
No problem. You can find every single Circle Round story on our website.
That's wbur.org slash circleround, or wherever you and your grown-ups get your podcasts.
