Jester and Town Crier welcome the audience to the madrigal dinner with a rhyming contest. The King, a crabby sort of fellow, has returned from the hunt and has invited a wise woman he met in the woods to the court. Though the King’s only purpose is to have fun at her expense, he finds that the wise woman has a few tricks of her own. She leaves the Queen with an unusual ring, one which will force the wearer to always tell the truth. As the ring gets passed around the court, they find that they must tell the truth, which simply is just not done in polite society. Truth replaces flattery in the court, and the King’s dungeons are getting, well, full. The Queen may be able to talk some sense into him, but it will likely take more than that. Find out if the King really can handle the truth!
Cast size: 3 Male, 3 Female, 1 M/F, 3-4 Extras
Audience interaction: 
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SAMPLE PAGES:
TOWN CRIER: Jester! I think it’s the ring! It makes you tell the truth whether you want to or not!
JESTER: Oh, surely, you are imagining this.
TOWN CRIER: No, I don’t think so.
JESTER: All right. Let me ask you a question.
TOWN CRIER: (Before TOWN CRIER can stop him.) No—
JESTER: Do you think my jokes are funny?
TOWN CRIER: Not really. (He claps his hand over his mouth. Pauses. Smiles weakly.) See, I told you!
JESTER: You don’t think my jokes are funny?
TOWN CRIER: No. (He claps his hand over his mouth.) Jester, it’s the ring! It has a mind of its own!
JESTER: But YOU don’t think my jokes are funny?
TOWN CRIER: No, I really don’t. (He claps his hand over his mouth.) Jester, stop! (Frantically, he tries to get the ring off.) Jester, I can’t get it off! Help me out! What if the King comes back? He can’t find me like this!
JESTER: Like what? . . . Painfully honest?
TOWN CRIER: (TOWN CRIER is trying everything to get the ring off.) It’s just a matter of taste with your jokes. That’s all! I have good taste, and you do not. (He claps his hand over his mouth.)
JESTER: What? That’s laughable!
TOWN CRIER: About as laughable as your jokes!
JESTER: Oh, I’ll make you pay for this affront! Hark, here comes the King now! (Smiles.) This could prove interesting.
TOWN CRIER: Jester, old buddy, old pal! You’ve got to help me out! Help me get this ring off!
JESTER: I will . . . if you say you love my jokes.
TOWN CRIER: I luh . . . luh . . . luh-oathe them. (He claps his hand over his mouth.)
JESTER: Why you! (Takes a step toward TOWN CRIER just as the KING enters.)
TOWN CRIER: The King! The King! (He tries madly to inconspicuously remove the ring.)
JESTER: Your majesty! Good day to you, sire!
KING: I do not believe that it is a good day. The women in the kingdom seem to be in revolt.
JESTER: Not true, sire. You have the respect and esteem of every good woman in the kingdom.
KING: Are you saying that my Queen is not a good woman?
JESTER: Of course not, sire! I meant that your Queen holds you with great respect and esteem. Isn’t that right, Town Crier?
TOWN CRIER: (Struggling with the ring.) What do you mean, Jester?
JESTER: Let me be absolutely clear. I’ll make is a simple “yes” or “no” question. Do you believe that the Queen holds the King in great respect and esteem?
TOWN CRIER: (Struggles not to say anything. We see the visual struggle in his facial expression.) Nnnn . . . oo.
KING: (Non-plussed.) Well, judging from her actions last night, I would agree with the Town Crier. Thank you for your honesty, good sir. (TOWN CRIER is visibly relieved and tries to exit.)
JESTER: (A bit frustrated, he catches the TOWN CRIER and brings him back.) Yes, I also admire your honesty, Town Crier. So, I’ll ask you another question. Do you believe that the Queen really thinks that the King is . . . mean-spirited?
TOWN CRIER: (Struggles with the ring and fights the answer.) Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyees.
KING: What is wrong with Town Crier? Does he have the ague?
JESTER: I’m sure it’s only a passing chill, your majesty. But I do have one more question! Town Crier, do you think that the King is mean-spirited?
TOWN CRIER: (He claps his hand over his mouth. You hear a lot of mumbling.)
JESTER: I can’t quite make that out. Could you take your hands away from your mouth?
TOWN CRIER: (His arms go stiff at his sides and his fists are clenched. He has his teeth tightly clenched so that he cannot speak. Slowly, with much bodily jerking, his body fights him to form the letter “Y.” This is a great opportunity for physical humor.)
KING: What was that?
JESTER: It appeared to be the letter “Y,” sire.
TOWN CRIER: (With more bodily jerking, his body forms the letter “E.”)
KING: Again, what is he doing?
JESTER: I believe he’s spelling out a word. Kind of like charades. I think he just made the letter “E.”
TOWN CRIER: (One more last convulsive struggle. His body forms the letter “S.”)
JESTER: Oh, I’ve got it! Y-E-S! That’s spells yes! He does think you are mean-spirited! Do I win a prize for guessing the right answer?
KING: What?
JESTER: Well, I think I’d at least get a point for my team.
KING: You think I am mean-spirited?
JESTER: Oh no, sire. The Town Crier does.
KING: I was talking to the Town Crier! (To TOWN CRIER.) Is this true? You think that I am mean-spirited?
TOWN CRIER: (As if he’s exploding.) Yes! Yes, I do! (He claps his hand over his mouth.)
KING: WHAT? This is an outrage! Guards, throw him in the dungeon! For this, you shall die in the morning! (Enter two GUARDS who begin to take TOWN CRIER away.)
JESTER: (Under his breath.) Well, your majesty certainly proved the Town Crier wrong. Mean-spirited indeed!
