Hi, Rebecca Shear here with some really fun news.
On February 8th, Circle Round LIVE!
is coming to Symphony Hall in Boston, and you're invited!
Join us for a live recording of two new episodes featuring me, composer Eric Shimolonis, plus Boston Symphony Orchestra players and a star -studded cast.
Get your tickets today at wbur .org slash Circle Round.
WBUR Podcasts, Boston.
Have your super fans today at wbur .org slash Circle Round Club.
Do you have a friend or family member who's gone through a tough time?
When the people we love are struggling, we want to do whatever we can to help them out, right?
Well, we're about to meet a queen who is desperate to help her daughter.
And as it turns out, the only thing that will truly help is nowhere to be found.
I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round LIVE!
at Symphony Space in New York, New York.
Today our story is called The Peach of Life.
You'll find versions of this tale from the Asian countries of China and Vietnam.
Joining me on stage is a star -studded quintet of actors Adam Goldberg, Catherine Grody, Stephen Houk, Gideon Irving, and Faith Salley.
And providing musical accompaniment is the one and only Eric Shimolonis.
So circle round everyone for The Peach of Life.
It was summertime, and the kingdom was a buzz.
The princess had fallen ill, so ill that she was too weak and frail to get out of bed, and her mother, the queen, was beside herself with worry.
The princess is my one and only child.
If I lose her, my world is lost, too.
Doctors from near and far came flocking to the palace, each one bearing tinctures and tonics, elixirs and herbs.
Yet none of them could bring life back to the princess's cheeks or strength back to her body.
As the princess grew sicker and sicker, the queen heard talk of a wizard, a wise old man who lived in a cave at the foot of the mountains.
It's been said this wizard possesses mystical powers capable of miracles.
I must find him, and with any luck his powers will heal my daughter.
The queen mounted her horse and galloped to the wizard's cave.
Stepping inside, she found herself before a crackling fire.
Crouched beside the fire, warming his weathered hands and the flickering flames was an old man.
His shoulders were sloped, his beard was silver, and the skin on his face was as wrinkled as a raisin.
The queen instantly knew who the old man was.
Turns out he knew who she was, too.
I had a feeling you would come, Your Majesty.
Your daughter is ill, is she not?
She is ill, terribly ill.
I have summoned hundreds of doctors, yet none have been able to restore her health.
Great wizard, I have heard you are very wise and possess magical powers.
Might you know how to cure my daughter?
The wizard stroked his silver beard.
In answer to your question, Your Majesty, I have some pleasant news and some unpleasant news.
Which would you like first?
How about the pleasant news, please?
The pleasant news is that somewhere in this kingdom there grows a very special peach.
One that can cure the princess.
It's called the Peach of Life.
The Peach of Life? Oh, that's wonderful.
So, what is the unpleasant news?
The unpleasant news is the Peach of Life is lost.
No one knows where to find it, but if they do, I promise just one bite, and your daughter will be as hale and as healthy as can be.
The queen thanked the wizard, then galloped back to the palace and issued a proclamation.
I hereby proclaim that anyone who can find the Peach of Life and bring it to the palace to heal my daughter shall be richly rewarded.
The queen's proclamation spread to the farthest ends of the kingdom.
Eventually it reached the countryside, where a woman named Summer ran a small orchard with her two younger brothers, a pair of twins named Autumn and Winter.
Okay, so I say Summer ran the orchard with Autumn and Winter, but the truth is she did all the work pruning, watering, and weeding the fruit trees while her brothers loafed around.
Autumn, Winter, have you heard the news?
The princess is gravely ill.
Yeah, and the queen is seeking some sort of magic peach that can cure her?
Yeah, because the wizard told her that was the only solution.
Yeah, big sis. We've heard the news.
But seriously, who in their right mind believes in magic peaches?
Who in their right mind believes in magic?
Okay, fine, fine. You two can laugh all you like.
But the queen is offering a rich reward to anyone who can find this Peach of Life.
And given how the three of us struggled to make ends meet with our tiny orchard, we could certainly use a rich reward, don't you think?
The twins heaved a sigh.
Much as they loved quibbling with their older sister, they couldn't argue this time.
All right, fine. What do we do?
Well, here's what I'm thinking.
We have one peach tree in our orchard, right?
And its branches are bursting with fruit.
Perhaps one of them is the Peach of Life.
So, Autumn, I want you to fill a sack with the best peaches from our tree and bring it to the palace.
I'm sorry. Excuse me?
Autumn rolled his eyes.
You want me to haul a big old sack of peaches to the palace?
Why can't you do it?
Because in case you haven't noticed, I'm too busy pruning, watering, and weeding the orchard.
Unless you want to take my place.
Autumn did not want to take his sister's place, so he trud to the orchard, stuffed a sack with the plumpest, ripest peaches he could find, and set off toward the palace.
On his way, he encountered an old man with sloped shoulders, a silver beard, and skin as wrinkled as a raisin.
Sound familiar? It was the wizard from the cave, but Autumn didn't know that.
Greetings, young sir.
You look like you're on a mission.
Tell me, what do you carry in that sack of yours?
Impatient to get to the palace, and worried that this grizzled codger would beg for some of his peaches, Autumn scowled.
Yeah, look, I'm sorry, old man, but really, what is it your business when I'm carrying in my sack?
Okay, look, if you must know, I carry nothing in my sack, except a bunch of moldy bread.
Moldy bread, you say?
The wizard smiled. Well, you say you carry moldy bread in your sack, so moldy bread you must have.
Good day. Autumn continued on his way.
When he reached the palace, the guards led him straight to the queen.
So you believe you have the peach of life that will cure my daughter?
Let's have a look. Of course, your majesty.
Autumn pulled open the mouth of the sack, but when the queen and guards peered inside, it wasn't peaches they laid eyes on.
Instead, it was moldy bread, loaf after loaf of rancid, rotting bread, covered with fuzzy green mold and giving off a putrid stench.
Yuck! What is the meaning of this trick?
Guards, toss this man into the dungeon now!
Two of the burliest guards barreled over and led Autumn away.
And meanwhile, back at the orchard, Summer and Winter had no idea that their brother had been detained.
Winter? It's been days since Autumn left.
Who knows when or if he'll return?
So now it's your turn to give it a go.
Okay. What? Winter shook his head.
You want me to lug a clunky sack of peaches to the palace?
Why can't you do it?
Because in case it slipped your mind, I have my hands full pruning, watering, and weeding the orchard.
Unless you want to take my place?
Winter did not want to take his sister's place, so he lumbered to the orchard and filled a sack with peaches, and on his way to the palace.
Do you know who happened to cross his bath?
Greetings, young sir.
You guessed it. The wizard.
The Winter hadn't the foggiest notion of who the old man was.
You look like you're on a mission.
Tell me, what do you carry in that sack of yours?
Like his twin brother before him, Winter scowled.
Pardon me, old man, but what is it your business what I'm carrying in my sack?
If you must know, I carry nothing in my sack except a bunch of cockroaches.
Oh, cockroaches, you say?
The wizard grinned.
Well, you say you carry cockroaches in your sack, so cockroaches you must have.
Good day. Winter carried on with his journey.
When he arrived at the palace, the guards ushered him straight to the queen.
So, so you believe you have the peach of life that will cure my daughter?
Let's have a look. Absolutely, your majesty.
Winter yanked open the mouth of the sack, but when the queen and guards looked inside, it wasn't peaches they spied.
Instead, it was cockroaches.
Thousands of cockroaches skittering out of the sack and scuttling all over the room.
Eww! Eww! How dare you play such a trick?
This is more offensive than that young man who brought me the moldy bread.
And come to think of it, you look just like him.
Guards, take this fool and have him join his twin trickster in the dungeon now.
Two of the brawniest guards marched over and led Winter away.
And meanwhile, back at the orchard, Summer was sick with worry.
Both of my brothers have been gone for some time now.
I must find them and save the princess.
There's no time to lose.
How do you think Summer will fare on her mission?
We'll find out what happens after a quick break.
My grandfather bought me a circle round membership last Christmas.
I really like it because we get a stuffed lion and a reusable bag, which we use all the time for library books.
I also enjoy the birthday message from Rebecca Shear.
Grownups, sign up your superfan today at wbur .org slash Circle Round Club.
I'm Rebecca Shear. Welcome back to Circle Round Live at Symphony Space in New York, New York.
Today our story is called The Peach of Life.
Before the break, the queen was seeking the peach of life, the only thing in the world that could heal her ailing daughter.
Twin brothers Autumn and Winter each picked two sacks of peaches from their orchard and headed to the palace.
On the way, they were rude to a mysterious old man who turned out to be a wizard.
So at the palace, instead of peaches in their sacks, they found moldy bread and cockroaches, and the queen threw them both into the dungeon.
Their big sister Summer wanted to find her missing brothers and save the princess, so she grabbed a sack and rushed out to the orchard.
Only a few peaches remained on its branches, and they were all small and hard and green, but Summer picked them all, then set off for the palace.
And during her travels, guess who she happened to encounter?
Greetings, miss. Indeed, it was the wizard.
But, as with her brothers before her, Summer didn't have a clue who he was.
You look like you're on a mission.
Tell me, what do you carry in that sack of yours?
When the wizard asked the twins this question, you remember how they answered, right?
They scowled and blew him off, but their older sister did no such thing.
Since you ask, good sir, I carry peaches in my sack.
Peaches, you say? The wizard arched an eyebrow.
Might you have one or two to spare for a hungry old man?
Summer smiled. Technically, she did have plenty of peaches to spare, but just as she began rummaging through her sack.
Actually, now that I think of it, I'm not that hungry after all.
That's all right. I'm not sure how tasty my peaches would be anyway.
They're not very big or ripe, but I'm hoping one of them is the peach of life.
The one that will cure the princess?
The wizard's eyes sparkled.
Well, you say you carry peaches in your sack.
So, peaches you must have.
After all, they're far more desirable than moldy bread and cockroaches.
More desirable than what?
Never you mind. Good day.
When Summer got to the palace, she noticed the queen's eyes were puffy and red, and her cheeks were drenched with tears.
So, you believe you have the peach of life that will cure my daughter?
Because you should know my hope and my happiness and my patience are all wearing thin.
Oh, I hear you, your majesty.
You've been through quite the ordeal.
I can't imagine how hard it's been.
Oh, it's been hard, all right.
As the queen of this land, I have fought in battles.
I have fended off intruders.
But watching your one and only child waste away before your very eyes, it breaks your heart into so many pieces you could never count them all.
Well, your majesty, it is my sincere hope that I can help heal your daughter and your heart with these.
Summer's hands trembled as she stretched open the mouth of her sack.
But when the queen and guards gazed inside, it wasn't small, hard, green peaches they spied.
It was just one peach, and it was the biggest, plumpest, ripest peach they had ever seen.
This peach! Oh, it's magnificent!
What is your name, dear?
Summer. Well, Summer, let's hope this peach does the trick.
My daughter cannot spare any more time.
And you cannot bear any more disappointment.
I understand. Summer followed the queen to the princess's room.
The young woman lay stuck still on a tall bed, her eyes closed tight, her breathing quick and shallow.
The queen sat beside her daughter and encouraged her to take a bite of the peach.
The princess didn't open her eyes, but slowly, very slowly, she opened her mouth and took a tiny nibble.
And within moments, do you know what happened?
Her breathing slowed, her eyes snapped open, then she sat straight up in bed and threw herself into her mother's arms.
Summer, you've done it!
You saved my daughter!
Oh, so please tell me, what reward do you wish for?
Chests of jewels? Backs of money?
A magnificent new wardrobe of fine, luxurious clothes?
Name it. Anything. It's yours.
With all due respect, Your Majesty, what I was going to ask for are more trees for my family's orchard, maybe some animals, too, like a goat, maybe, and some ducks?
Not too many. Just enough so my brothers and I don't have to struggle so hard to get by.
The queen cocked her crowned head.
Summer, you say you were going to ask for these things, so why don't you?
Because what I really want now is to find my brothers.
They're twins, actually, and they went missing after venturing to the palace in hopes of bringing you the magic peach.
Twins, you say? The queen frowned as she put two and two together.
Your brothers must be the scoundrels who deceived me.
They brought me moldy bread and cockroaches.
And now they are in the dungeon.
Moldy bread and cockroaches?
Now it was Summer who put two and two together.
I'm not sure what happened, Your Majesty, but I am sure my brothers didn't mean to deceive you.
They were only trying to save our family.
You know how important family is, right?
Indeed I do. Gods free the twins at once.
By the end of the day, Summer was riding home in a royal carriage.
But she wasn't alone.
By her side were her brothers.
And rolling behind them was cart after cart of baby trees, baby goats, and baby ducks.
The family orchard was transformed after that day, and so was the family.
After years of loafing and lazing around, Autumn and Winter were more than happy to help their heroic big sister prune, water, and weed the trees, and take care of the animals.
The three siblings worked hard, but even more importantly, they worked together.
Now it's your turn.
How does teamwork play a role in your life?
Maybe you and your family cook together, or you collaborate on school projects with classmates.
Perhaps you're a member of a sports or dance team.
Find some paper and draw a picture of you and your team.
Show it to someone you have fun with, and if you'd like, share it with us.
Grown -ups email a photo of your circle round fan and their picture to circleround at wbur .org.
With your permission, we may feature it in The Lion's Roar, the monthly circle round club newsletter.
You can learn more about the circle round club at wbur .org slash circle round club.
This week's story, The Peach of Life, was adapted by me, Rebecca Scheer.
It was edited by Dean Russell.
Eric Chimalones composed our original music and played it live on the Rouen.
You can learn more about this plucked string instrument from China and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website.
That's wbur .org slash circle round.
Circle round's artist is Sabina Hahn.
Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for each and every circle round story, and you can color them in while you listen.
Grown -ups download our coloring pages on our website.
Again, that's wbur .org slash circle round.
Special thanks to our incredible actors at Symphony Space, Adam Goldberg, Kathryn Brody, Stephen Hough, Gideon Irving, and Faith Salie.
Actor, musician, director, and photographer Adam Goldberg is known for his roles in films and TV shows like Saving Private Ryan, Dazed and Confused, Two Days in Paris, The Hebrew Hammer, Friends, Entourage, and The Equalizer with Queen Latifah.
Writer and Drama Desk -nominated and Ooby Award -winning actor Kathryn Brody has starred in the groundbreaking off -Broadway shows The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Top Girls, and her own one -woman play of Mom's Life.
Her newest play, The Unexpected Third, comes to New York City in November 2025.
Fans of the Marvelous Mrs.
Maisel will recognize Stephen Hauck as Jane Lynch's impeccable butler, Dawes.
Stephen has appeared in many shows on and off Broadway as well, and in the Spike Lee joints, Old Boy, The Sweet Blood of Jesus, and She's Gotta Have It.
Gideon Irving is a performer and musician who has put on elaborate one -man shows in more than 700 living rooms, kitchens, attics, basements, garages, barns, wood sheds, sugar shacks, yurts, and cooling towers on four continents.
He's also mesmerized audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and off Broadway.
Actor, author, journalist, and comedian Faith Salie is an Emmy Award -winning contributor to CBS Sunday Morning and a regular on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.
Her off -Broadway solo show, Approval Junkie, can be found on Audible.
And a big circle round of thanks to WBUR's Andrea O 'Meara and to the fantastic staff at Symphony Space in New York City.
Grown -ups, if you enjoy Circle Round, please leave us a five -star review on your favorite podcast app.
It helps other listeners find the show.
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Scheer.
Thanks for Circling Round with us.
Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know, what's your favorite Circle Round story?
Thousands of fans, just like you, have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best.
Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours, too.
I'm Morgan, and I'm from England.
My favorite Circle Round is the Crystal Story box, and my favorite part is when the spider gets this Crystal Story box.
And this is my little brother, Colin, and he's from England too.
And his favorite Circle Round is the lion's whisker.
What's your favorite part?
My name's Alisha, and I'm from Anchorage, Alaska.
My favorite Circle Round story is The Enchanted Paintbrush.
My favorite part is when she gets the Enchanted Paintbrush.
My name is Nora. I live in Pennsylvania, and my favorite is the waterproof cover.
My name is Ezra. I live in Pennsylvania.
My favorite Circle Round story is the Fairy Fort.
My favorite part is when they leave the party.
My name is Kate, and I'm from Washington, DC.
My favorite story is the bass and licks there, and I like the part where the little boy turns to stone.
I'm Mike. I live in Auburn, Maine.
My favorite story is the last bird.
I like the part where you have your bird, the last.
My name is Simone. I live in California.
I love you, Rebecca Sheehy.
I love all your stories.
Did someone mention a story you've missed?
Not to worry. Grownups, you can find all of our Circle Round stories, plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages, and oh so much more on our website, wbur .org slash Circle Round.
