This episode is the primary in a three-part sequence recorded reside with musicians from the Boston Symphony Orchestra plus an all-star forged at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts.
Do you will have any furry buddies in your life?
A cat? A canine? A gerbil?
In that case, do they get together with one another?
We’re about to fulfill two animals who was once nice buddies – till one thing main – and magical – drove them aside!
Our story is known as “Preventing Like Cats and Canines.” Variations of this folktale initially come from the Korean folks of East Asia.
Becoming a member of us on stage at Tanglewood was a quartet of musicians from the Boston Symphony Orchestra — Richel Childers on horn, Clint Foreman on flute, Ben Levy on double bass, and Suzanne Nelson on bassoon — plus a quintet of all-star actors: William Christian, Josh Gondelman, Hrishikesh Hirway, Tina Packer, and Religion Salie.
In regards to the actors:
William Christian is a Washington, D-C-born actor recognized for his roles in All My Youngsters, Days of Our Lives, The January Man, and Jail Break.
Religion Salie just lately starred in her personal Off-Broadway solo present, Approval Junkie. She’s a contributor to CBS Sunday Morning, a storyteller for The Moth, and an everyday panelist on the NPR information quiz Wait, Wait…Don’t Inform Me!
Josh Gondelman can also be a Wait, Wait common. The Emmy Award-winning author and comic has written for such reveals as Final Week Tonight with John Oliver and Desus & Mero. His debut standup particular Individuals Pleaser is on the market for streaming now.
Tina Packer was born in England, the place she educated on the Royal Academy of Dramatic Artwork, and performed in tv sequence for the BBC. In 1978, she co-founded the world-famous Shakespeare & Firm in Lenox, Massachusetts, the place she’s labored ever since. She has directed each single one in every of Shakespeare’s performs, and taught your complete canon at over thirty schools.
Hrishikesh Hirway is a singer-songwriter who hosts the podcast and Netflix present Track Exploder. He’s additionally creator and co-host of the podcast House Cooking, with chef Samin Nosrat; and the West Wing Weekly, with actor Josh Malina.
This episode was tailored for Circle Spherical by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Supervising Producer Nora Saks. Authentic music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn. Sound-recording and engineering at Tanglewood supplied by Emily Jankowski and David Corsello.
Coloring Web page
ADULTS! PRINT THIS so everybody can shade whereas listening. We’re additionally conserving an album so share your image on Fb, Twitter, Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRound. We would like to see it! To entry all of the coloring pages for previous episodes, click on HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you’ll be taught extra about her HERE.
Issues To Suppose About After Listening
Is there somebody in your life you will have hassle getting together with? A sibling? A classmate? Even a good friend?
Consider it or not, grown-ups expertise these items, too. So decide a grown-up in your life and ask them: have they struggled to get together with somebody? In that case, how did they type issues out? Hopefully, their recommendation can carry somewhat extra concord to your world.
Script:
NARRATOR: Again in one other time… in a tiny cottage close to a fast-running river and a glowing blue sea… a person lived together with his pet cat and canine.
CAT: Okay, we’re gonna cease you proper there. Aren’t we, Canine?
DOG: Completely, Cat!
CAT: See, we’re not so massive on that phrase you simply used.
NARRATOR: Which phrase…?
DOG: Oh… ya know…
CAT: PET!!!
DOG: Yeah, we want the time period “companion animal.”
CAT: “Pet” makes us really feel extra like property.
DOG: Like a chair.
CAT: Or a sweater.
NARRATOR: Okay… so how about this. Again in one other time… in a tiny cottage close to a fast-running river and a glowing blue sea… a person lived together with his companion animals, a cat and a canine.
CAT: A lot better!
DOG: Thanks!
NARRATOR: Now… again in ‘this different time,’ the cat and canine had been the easiest of buddies. However that is the story of how cats and canine internationally got here to combat like… effectively… like cats and canine.
CAT: “Preventing like cats and canine”!?!??
DOG: Is that an actual expression?
CAT: I imply, we’ve heard the expression “raining cats and canine”…
DOG: …however “combating”?
CAT: We’d by no means combat! Not in one million years!
DOG: Which is the equal of what? 142-thousand canine years?!??
NARRATOR: 142,857, to be actual. However take note of the remainder of the story, and also you’ll discover out what I imply. All of it started one morning when the person went to the seaside, to gather driftwood. He did this each morning, so he may promote the wooden on the market. It was how he eked out a dwelling – meager although it was.
MAN: Come on, Cat! Come on, Canine! We’re going to the seaside! The tide was particularly excessive final evening, so we must always discover loads of wooden washed up on the shore!
CAT: Meow!
DOG: Woof!
CAT: (stage whisper) We by no means discuss when the person is round!
DOG: (stage whisper) It could be too bizarre for him!
NARRATOR: (stage whisper) Understood! (regular voice) So the person and his pets –
CAT: (stage whisper) Companion animals!
DOG: (stage whisper) Weren’t you listening earlier than?
NARRATOR: (stage whisper) Sorry! (regular voice) So the person and his companion animals went to the seaside. However to the person’s dismay, regardless of the excessive tide the evening earlier than…
MAN: …there’s not one piece of driftwood on the shore! Oh pricey! If I can’t discover any driftwood, I can’t promote any driftwood! And if I can’t promote any driftwood, I can’t make any cash! And if I am unable to make any cash, then my cat, canine and I’ll starve!
NARRATOR: The person’s eyes welled up with tears as he frantically searched the seashore for wooden. The cat and canine joined him, scampering and sniffing from side to side. After which… hastily…
CAT: (as if calling out to MAN) Meow!
DOG: (as if calling out MAN) Woof!
MAN: What’s it, buddies? Did you discover one thing?
NARRATOR: The person rushed over to the cat and canine. Flipping and flopping on the moist sand between them was an enormous, silver fish!
MAN: My goodness, buddies! Would you have a look at this fish?! It’s almost as massive as each of you! (beat) Overlook the driftwood! Meals has been so scarce currently, I say we take this fish dwelling and eat it for lunch! And dinner! And breakfast tomorrow! It’s so giant and plump it’ll feed us for days and days and – (will get interrupted)
QUEEN OF THE SEA: (disguised as fish) (ad-lib crying/sobbing/weeping)
NARRATOR: The person fell silent. He cupped his hand to his ear.
MAN: Wait! Do you hear somebody… crying? Who may or not it’s?
NARRATOR: The person appeared to his proper, he appeared to his left, after which… he appeared down.
MAN: Effectively, I’ll be! (beat) It’s the fish!
NARRATOR: Certain sufficient, the massive, silver fish… was crying! Weeping! Streams of water had been pouring from the creature’s vivid, spherical eyes and operating down its scaly cheeks.
MAN: Nice heavens! I’ve by no means seen a fish shed tears earlier than! It appears to be like so unhappy!
NARRATOR: The person felt his coronary heart exit to the creature. And suddenly, he knew what he should do.
MAN: I could also be hungry, however I’m not heartless. I’m throwing this fish again into the ocean.
NARRATOR: The person scooped the fish into his arms, and tossed it into the waves, the place it landed with a splash. Then the person turned on his heel and began towards dwelling, with the cat and canine in tow.
MAN: Effectively, with none driftwood to promote or fish to eat, it’s going to be an extended, hungry day. However I’d select an empty abdomen over a merciless coronary heart any time!
QUEEN OF THE SEA: And for that… I thanks!
NARRATOR: The person froze and whirled round. Standing within the waves… on the very spot the place the weeping fish had landed… was a lady! Her silvery hair hung all the best way to her waist, and on her silvery head was a crown studded with luminous pearls. Instantly, the person realized who the lady was.
MAN: Goodness me! You’re the Queen of the Sea! Ruler of all of the waters, from the oceans to the lakes to the rivers!
QUEEN OF THE SEA: That I’m, my good friend. However the excessive tide final evening washed me up onto the shore. And as soon as I used to be out of the water, I misplaced my powers, and I became a helpless, hopeless fish, trapped on the seashore. (beat) However you… you took pity on me! You didn’t ignore me, or take me dwelling and cook dinner me up for lunch. As a substitute, you threw me again into the water, the place I belong!
NARRATOR: The person may hardly imagine his eyes – or ears! However he tried to carry it collectively as he flashed the Queen of the Sea a sheepish smile.
MAN: Effectively, to be sincere, Your Highness… the considered a fish feast did cross my thoughts. Instances have been exhausting and meals has been scarce. All the pieces has been scarce. However I needed to do what was proper. I needed to prevent!
QUEEN OF THE SEA: And I respect that. Which is why I need to provide you with one thing. (beat) Catch!
NARRATOR: The Queen of the Sea waved her arms and immediately one of many pearls in her crown popped proper off. The person reached out his hand and caught it.
QUEEN OF THE SEA: That pearl, good human, is magical! Maintain it to your coronary heart and it gives you something you want for. Something in any respect!
NARRATOR: The person gazed on the pearl with amazement. Then he gazed on the Queen with appreciation.
MAN: Your Majesty! I haven’t had two cash to rub collectively currently and this pearl is simply the factor to avoid wasting me and my furry buddies right here! I thanks from the underside of my coronary heart!
QUEEN OF THE SEA: From the underside of your type coronary heart, good human. You saved my life. And for that, I thanks!
NARRATOR: And with that, the Queen of the Sea sank beneath the waves… and disappeared. Now that the person has his wishing pearl, what do you assume will occur subsequent? And the way will the cat and canine go from buddies… to foes? We’ll discover out… after a fast break.
[BREAK]
NARRATOR: I’m Rebecca Sheir, and welcome again to Circle Spherical, reside at Tanglewood! Right this moment our story is known as “Preventing Like Cats and Canines.” Earlier than the break, a poor man was trying to find driftwood together with his pet cat and canine when – (will get interrupted)
CAT: (interrupting) Okay, I do know we simply got here again from a break and all the things, however what number of occasions do we’ve got to remind you?
DOG: It’s not “pet”! It’s “companion animal”!
CAT: We’re not simply items of property!
DOG: I imply, have a look at us! We’re cute!
CAT: We’re cuddly!
DOG: We even discuss!
CAT: …When the person isn’t round, anyway.
NARRATOR: I do know. I’m sorry. It gained’t occur once more. I promise. (beat) So. Let me attempt once more.
NARRATOR: The poor man was out on the seashore together with his companion animals, a cat and canine, once they discovered an enormous, silver fish – which started to weep!
The sympathetic man threw the fish again into the water… however the creature was really the Queen of the Sea, who’d gotten trapped on the seashore! To reward the person’s kindness, the Queen gave him a pearl that granted needs. The person thanked the Queen, then led his cat and canine again to their tiny cottage close to the ocean and the river.
MAN: Effectively, right here we’re, buddies! House candy dwelling!
NARRATOR: The person lifted the rusty latch on the rickety door and stepped inside. The cottage was small and sq. with tough flooring and peeling partitions. There have been outdated wood containers serving as a chair and desk, and a small, lumpy mattress which the person, cat, and canine all crowded onto at evening.
MAN: The Queen of the Sea says if I maintain this pearl to my coronary heart, it should give me something I want for. Given how tiny and naked this cottage is, maybe I may begin by wishing for a brand new home! What do you say?
NARRATOR: The cat and canine leaped over and nuzzled the person’s leg.
CAT: (enthusiastic) Meow!
DOG: (enthusiastic) Woof!
CAT: (stage whisper) Meaning “sure”!
NARRATOR: (stage whisper) I figured as a lot! Thanks!
MAN: I’m glad you agree, buddies. However no must want for a palace or something. Simply one thing large enough for the three of us. So, with that…
NARRATOR: The person clutched the pearl to his coronary heart.
MAN: …I want for an even bigger home!
NARRATOR: No sooner did he say these phrases than he, the cat, and the canine had been standing in, sure, ‘an even bigger home’! There was a cheery sitting room and spacious kitchen downstairs, and two giant bedrooms upstairs, every one geared up with a feather mattress as tender as newly-fallen snow.
MAN: This home is unbelievable! It’s simply what we want! I say we want for a pleasant massive meal so we will have a good time!
NARRATOR: So the person wished for a pleasant, massive meal, and he and his furry buddies spent the entire day celebrating. That evening, after the cat and canine lay down on their soft feather mattress, the person heard a knock on the door.
MAN: (waking up) Hmmm… who may very well be paying a go to this late? Higher go see!
NARRATOR: Standing on the door was the person’s one and solely neighbor, a fellow who lived in a cottage throughout the river. The person couldn’t bear in mind the final time the 2 of them had crossed paths.
NEIGHBOR: Good night, neighbor! I caught sight of your unbelievable home throughout the river this night and I merely needed to come over!
NARRATOR: With out being invited, the neighbor barged inside and bustled into the sitting room.
NEIGHBOR: That is wonderful! Is it simply me, or did you redo this complete home in lower than a day?
NARRATOR: The person shrugged. He determined to not inform his nosy neighbor in regards to the wishing pearl.
MAN: Ummmm, yeah, I assume you can say I did a little bit of a renovation… (shortly altering the topic) Can I give you a drink?
NARRATOR: The neighbor plopped down on the sofa and put his toes up.
NEIGHBOR: A drink can be marvelous! Do you will have any tea?
MAN: Would not you understand it, I simply ran out of tea yesterday. However I may give you espresso, juice, or – (gasp as he remembers the pearl) Truly! I may give you some tea! Hold on a minute!
NARRATOR: The person hurried into the kitchen. As soon as he thought he was out of the neighbor’s sight, he introduced out the jam jar the place he had positioned the Queen’s pearl for safekeeping. He held the pearl to his coronary heart.
MAN: (whispering so the NEIGHBOR gained’t hear within the subsequent room) I want for some tea!
NARRATOR: And with that, a steaming kettle of tea appeared on the range!
NEIGHBOR: How on earth did you try this?!?
NARRATOR: The person spun round. Standing behind him was his neighbor! The nosy fellow had adopted the person into the kitchen!
NEIGHBOR: How did you make that kettle of tea seem? You need to inform me all the things!
NARRATOR: The person was caught. What else may he do however inform his neighbor the entire story? When he completed his story, the neighbor’s eyes had been aglow.
NEIGHBOR: So that you’re telling me the Queen of the Sea gave you this magic pearl…? And it grants needs…? (beat) I will need to have it! How a lot would you like for it?
MAN: It’s not on the market, sir. It was a present!
NARRATOR: The neighbor let loose a giant sigh.
NEIGHBOR: (placing on an act, unbeknownst to MAN) (massive sigh) Very effectively. I see how a lot the pearl means to you, so I gained’t ask about it once more. However I’ll ask an itty-bitty favor. Could I please spend the evening? My eyesight isn’t what it was once, and I’m afraid to row my boat throughout the river in the dead of night! I’ll simply sleep on the sofa and be out of your hair very first thing tomorrow!
NARRATOR: The person hadn’t counted on having a visitor, however he was too type to show his neighbor away.
MAN: After all you possibly can spend the evening, sir. I’ll see you within the morning.
NARRATOR: A while later, simply after midnight, the person was awoken by a curious sound.
MAN: Was {that a} door slamming? The entrance door, maybe?
NARRATOR: By the point the person made his method downstairs, he found that his nosy neighbor… was gone. And so was the wishing pearl. He raced outdoors, simply in time to see the neighbor’s boat attain the opposite shore.
MAN: (calling throughout the river) Come again! You stole my pearl! It doesn’t belong to you!
NARRATOR: However the neighbor paid him no thoughts. He simply flashed the person a smug smirk and disappeared into his cottage. The person stumbled again inside and collapsed on the sofa. He didn’t personal a ship, so he had no method of getting throughout the river and reclaiming his treasure. Feeling helpless and hopeless, he put his head in his arms…
MAN: (crying) (proceed lengthy sufficient to cowl the next motion)
NARRATOR: …and commenced to cry. The sounds of his sobbing traveled upstairs… and awoke the cat and canine.
CAT: Is that the person?
DOG: Is he… crying?
CAT: We should consolation him!
DOG: Let’s go!
NARRATOR: The cat and canine got here downstairs and nuzzled the person with their noses.
MAN: (crying slowly stops) Aw, thanks, buddies. However I’ve obtained unhealthy information. Our wishing pearl is misplaced. That neighbor ran away with it, and I’ve no method of crossing the river to get it again! (beat) The occasion’s over, I assume. Would possibly as effectively return to mattress. Good evening.
NARRATOR: The cat and canine waited till the person went upstairs. After which…
CAT: (pressing, excited to speak once more now that MAN is gone) Okay! We’ve to get that pearl again!
DOG: Sure! We should cross the river and get contained in the neighbor’s home!
CAT: However the man doesn’t personal a ship, and I’m not about to swim – you understand how a lot we cats hate water!
DOG: No worries! You’re my greatest good friend! I’ll do all of the swimming, and I’ll carry you on my again!
NARRATOR: So the canine swam the cat all the best way throughout the river. When the pair reached the opposite aspect, they crept as much as the neighbor’s cottage.
CAT: Excellent news, Canine! The neighbor left a window open! We will sneak proper inside!
DOG: Nice! And my wonderful sense of listening to tells me the neighbor has gone to sleep already!
CAT: So long as we’re quiet, we will skulk round till we sniff out the pearl! we each have wonderful senses of odor!
NARRATOR: Fast as a wink, the cat and canine snuck by the window and sniffed round. Their noses led them to somewhat clay pot within the kitchen. And what ought to they discover hidden contained in the pot however…
DOG: …The pearl!
CAT: I’ll fish it out!
NARRATOR: The cat caught her paw into the jar, took out the pearl, and held it between her tooth. Then she and the canine dashed to the river. The cat jumped onto the canine’s again, and the canine started to swim throughout.
However midway to the opposite shore, the canine started to develop anxious.
DOG: Um, Cat? Simply to ensure… You continue to have the pearl, proper?
NARRATOR: Provided that the cat was clutching the pearl between her tooth, she did her greatest to reply clearly.
CAT: (spoken unclearly, as if holding pearl between tooth) I’ve the pearl!
DOG: (not understanding) Wait, what? Do you will have it or don’t you?
CAT: (spoken unclearly, as if holding pearl between tooth) I mentioned, I’ve the pearl!
DOG: (nonetheless not understanding) What?
CAT: (spoken unclearly, as if holding pearl between tooth) I’ve it! I’ve the pearl!
DOG: (nonetheless not understanding) Look, I don’t perceive what you’re saying! Simply inform me: do you continue to have the pearl!!??!
NARRATOR: Lastly, the cat may take it not. She opened her mouth huge and let loose a yell.
CAT: (not holding pearl between tooth) (yelling) For the final time! I’ve it! I’ve the pearl! (beat) (realizing) Uh-oh.
NARRATOR: To the cat’s dismay, the second she’d opened her mouth to yell on the canine, the pearl had fallen out, and sunk into the water.
DOG: What’s occurring, Cat? What’s with the “uh-oh”?
CAT: (sheepish) Uhhhh… let’s simply say I did have the pearl… however it form of fell out of my mouth simply now…
DOG: What?!? How may you let that occur? Now the person’s life goes to be ruined! He’ll have to return to scavenging for driftwood on the seashore!
CAT: It’s not my fault! You stored asking me if I had the pearl, and I stored saying I did, however you couldn’t perceive me! So I yelled! And that’s when the pearl fell into the river!
DOG: Oh, so it’s my fault now?!?
CAT: Effectively it’s undoubtedly not my fault!
DOG: Is just too!
CAT: Is just not!
DOG: Is just too!
CAT: Is just not!
NARRATOR: This bickering went on and on, all the best way throughout the river.
DOG: Okay. Now that we’ve reached the opposite aspect, Cat, you may get off my again. And you may get out of my life!
CAT: It could be my pleasure to get out of your life!
DOG: Oh yeah? Then I’ll get out of yours, too!
NARRATOR: The canine flicked his head spherical and stomped away in a huff. The cat stayed behind and searched the riverbank, hoping past hope that she would discover the wishing pearl washed up on the shore.
However alas, all she discovered was…
CAT: … a lifeless fish?!?? Effectively, it’s not the treasure I used to be on the lookout for, however I would as effectively carry it dwelling. Now that the person has misplaced his wishing pearl, he’s going to wish one thing to eat!
NARRATOR: The cat introduced the fish inside the home. The morning solar was up by now, and the person was on the kitchen desk, sipping some tea.
MAN: Good to see you, Cat! When the canine got here dwelling with out you, I assumed for certain you’d run away! In spite of everything, you two have at all times been inseparable. (beat) However wait! What’s this you’ve introduced me? A fish?
NARRATOR: The person took the fish from the cat’s mouth.
MAN: Oh my! This one’s a magnificence! And what a scrumptious breakfast it should make. I’ll simply clear it out earlier than I cook dinner it up…
NARRATOR: The person laid the fish on the desk. However the second he sliced it open, are you aware what got here rolling out of its stomach? Do you?
NARRATOR: That’s proper! The wishing pearl! The fish had swallowed it after the cat dropped it into the river!
NARRATOR: From that day ahead, the person, cat, and canine lived in consolation and concord. Or possibly simply consolation. As a result of though the person had regained his pearl, the cat and canine by no means regained their friendship. As a substitute of apologizing to one another for his or her hurtful phrases, they held tight to their grudges and by no means obtained alongside once more. So even at this time, you probably have cats and canine as pets –
CAT: For the final time already! We’re not “pets”!
DOG: We’re “companion animals”!
CAT: That’s what I used to be about to say! Why do it’s important to interrupt me?
DOG: Why do it’s important to be so impolite?
CAT: Oh, I’m the impolite one?! You’re the impolite one!
DOG: No, you might be!
CAT: No, you might be!
DOG: No, you – (will get interrupted)
NARRATOR: Okay! You two! Cool it! We have to end the story!
CAT / DOG: (sigh) (grudging, nearly as if rolling eyes) Fiiiiine.
NARRATOR: As I used to be saying…
NARRATOR: Even at this time, you probably have cats and canine as companion animals, 9 occasions out of ten they simply don’t get alongside. As a substitute, they bicker. They quarrel. They usually combat. Similar to… sure… cats and canine.
Credit:
This episode was tailored for Circle Spherical by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Katherine Brewer. Authentic music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.