WBUR Podcasts, Boston.

This Circle Round episode was one of two recorded in February 2025 at Boston's Symphony Hall, home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

To be first in line for upcoming Circle Round events, including our annual Tanglewood show this summer,

join the Circle Round Club.

Grownups, sign up your superfans today at WBUR.org slash Circle Round Club.

And now on with the story.

Thank you. And now, on with the story. There's an old Egyptian proverb that says,

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.

We're about to meet a character who tells a lie so big, so whopping.

He comes crashing down to...

I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round Live at Symphony Hall in Boston, Massachusetts.

Today our story is called the Well of Honor.

You'll find versions of this tale from Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, and parts of the Middle East.

Joining me on stage is a star-studded cast of actors, Josh Gondelman, Har Kandabolu, Faith Saly, and Bethany Van Delft.

Providing musical accompaniment, under the direction of our own Eric Shimelonis,

is a world-class sextet from the Boston Symphony Orchestra,

Kathy Bassrock on Viola, Chris Elchico on clarinet,

Clint Foreman on flute, Ben Levy on double bass,

Suzanne Nelson on bassoon,

and Austin Ruff on horn.

...