Circle Round Podcast Summary: "The Well of Honor"
Podcast Information
- Title: Circle Round
- Host/Author: WBUR
- Episode: The Well of Honor
- Release Date: February 11, 2025
- Description: Circle Round adapts folktales from around the world into engaging radio plays for children and families, exploring themes like kindness, persistence, and generosity. Each episode concludes with an activity to foster deeper conversations between children and adults.
Introduction
In the February 11, 2025 episode of Circle Round titled "The Well of Honor," host Rebecca Shear presents a captivating adaptation of a Middle Eastern folktale. Recorded live at Boston's Symphony Hall, home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the episode features a stellar cast and rich musical accompaniment, enhancing the storytelling experience for listeners aged 3 to 103.
Opening Remarks: Rebecca Shear introduces the episode with a nod to an Egyptian proverb:
"A lie has no legs. In other words, a lie and untruth has no legs to stand on. And with nothing to support it, it's bound to come crashing down."
(00:01)
She emphasizes the theme of honesty by stating:
"We're about to meet a character who tells a lie so big, so whopping, he comes crashing down."
(00:11)
Story Summary
The Well of Honor revolves around four animal friends—Sheep, Goat, Goose, and Donkey—who decide to cultivate barley, a prized grain absent from their fertile valley. The narrative explores their collaborative efforts, the challenges of unequal participation, and the eventual consequences of dishonesty.
Setting the Scene: Rebecca Shear paints the lush environment of the valley where the animals live:
"In a wide green valley, there lived four animal friends. Sheep, Goat, Goose, Honk and Donkey. The soil in the animals valley was rich and fertile."
(02:46)
The Decision to Farm: Driven by their desire for barley, the friends commit to farming together:
Sheep: "That way we can eat as much barley as we want."
(03:47)
Goat: "We'll plant it, grow it and harvest it ourselves."
(03:51)
Goose: "We sure will go. As long as we split the harvest evenly between us."
(03:57)
Division of Labor: While Sheep, Goat, and Goose work diligently, Donkey consistently shirks responsibilities, offering excuses such as fatigue and discomfort:
Donkey: "I'm too tired or I'm too hungry, or I'm too sore. I must have slept weird last night because I am aching all over."
(05:00)
Despite Donkey's lack of effort, the barley thrives, culminating in a bountiful harvest. However, when it comes time to divide the barley, Donkey's true character emerges as he greedily consumes not only his share but also his friends' portions, leading to his swollen, incapacitated state:
Donkey: "Just one more."
(08:40)
Confrontation and Consequences: The next morning, Sheep, Goat, and Goose confront Donkey, suspecting his involvement in the disappearance of the barley. To resolve the conflict and restore honor, they devise a plan involving the mystical Well of Honor—a legendary site that discerns truth from deceit.
The Well of Honor Test: Each friend takes a turn jumping over the well while declaring their innocence:
Sheep: "I hereby swear I did not eat the barley."
(16:28)
Goat: "I hereby swear I did not eat the barley."
(16:53)
Goose: "I hereby swear I did not eat the barley. Honk."
(17:20)
Donkey, unable to conceal his guilt, fails the test by falling into the well:
Donkey: "I hereby swear I did not."
(18:16)
Resolution: Imprisoned in the well, Donkey experiences remorse and sincerely apologizes to his friends. The story concludes with a moral lesson on the importance of honesty, sharing, and not overstepping one's means:
"Donkey learned the importance of sharing and being honest and never, ever biting off more than you can or should chew."
(18:42)
Themes and Moral
The episode highlights several key themes:
- Honesty and Integrity: Donkey's downfall serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of dishonesty.
- Collaboration and Fairness: The initial cooperation among the friends underscores the value of working together and sharing resources equitably.
- Responsibility and Accountability: Donkey's failure to uphold his commitments ultimately leads to his realization and remorse.
Rebecca Shear reinforces these lessons by encouraging listeners to reflect on their own experiences with sharing:
"Think about the last time you shared something... find some paper and draw a picture of your sharing moment."
(09:12)
Characters and Performances
The episode features a talented cast bringing the animal characters to life:
- Josh Gondelman as Sheep: Provides a strong and compassionate voice.
- Hari Kondabolu as Goat: Delivers both humor and sincerity.
- Faith Salee as Goose: Adds a gentle and thoughtful tone.
- Bethany Van Delft as Honk: Portrays the quacking character with charm.
- Donkey: Portrayed with nuance, capturing the character's initial reluctance and eventual remorse.
Musical Accompaniment
Under the direction of Eric Shyamalonis, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's sextet enhances the storytelling with a rich soundscape:
- Kathy Basrak on viola
- Chris El Chico on clarinet
- Clint Foreman on flute
- Ben Levy on double bass
- Suzanne Nelson on bassoon
- Austin Ruff on horn
The music underscores the emotional beats of the story, from the harmony of friendship to the tension of Donkey's deceit and the resolution of reconciliation.
Listener Interaction
Circle Round fosters community engagement through the Circle Round Club, offering listeners exclusive content and activities. During the episode, Rebecca Shear invites listeners to participate by sharing their artwork related to the story's moral:
"With these questions in mind, find some paper and draw a picture of your sharing moment... email it to circleroundbur.org."
(19:25)
Listeners' testimonials highlight the show's impact:
"One thing I like about Circle Round Club is all the bedtime stories. They're really fun and almost like mini Circle Round stories."
(11:41)
Conclusion
"The Well of Honor" successfully weaves a traditional folktale into a modern narrative, imparting timeless lessons on honesty and cooperation. Through engaging storytelling, dynamic performances, and evocative music, Circle Round continues to resonate with families, encouraging meaningful conversations and personal reflections.
Final Notes: Rebecca Shear wraps up the episode by acknowledging the creative team and inviting listeners to explore more stories and resources on the Circle Round website:
"You can find all of our Circles Round stories, plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages, and oh, so much more on our website, WBUR.org/CircleRound."
(24:25)
Credits:
- Adaptation and Editing: Rebecca Shear and Dean Russell
- Music Direction: Eric Shyamalonis
- Cast: Josh Gondelman, Hari Kondabolu, Faith Salee, Bethany Van Delft
- Orchestra Members: Kathy Basrak, Chris El Chico, Clint Foreman, Ben Levy, Suzanne Nelson, Austin Ruff
- Artistic Contributions: Sabina Hahn (coloring pages)
Circle Round remains a cherished resource for storytelling and family engagement, blending cultural tales with universal morals to inspire young minds and foster intergenerational connections.