Classic! This episode is in my top 10 favorites! It stays true to the original short story "Too Dear!" by Leo Tolstoy, but this adaptation is much better than the story.

In this farce, the King of a tiny kingdom doesn't want to spend the money to purchase a guillotine to execute a prisoner. He explores several other means of execution and punishment, but can't find one that he deems cost effective.

Not what you'd expect but enjoyable nevertheless.

HA! Government in action. Too funny - good one.

I'm with you, Mike. Shout out to Grand Rapids! There are quite a few humorous episodes that work most of the way through, but the one I think works best is "The Village of Fools". Much of the humor falls flat in many of these episodes, but at least bits of them work. I prefer the mysteries, supernatural tales, some of the better historical episodes, and the Mark Twain, Shakespeare, and some O. Henry adaptations. I still love listening to these shows after decades, and I'm very glad they exist.

Story is OK but the whimsical music CBSRMT uses in most of it's comedies sounds really dated. For the most part, the comedies don't really work, CBSRMT works best with sci-fi and scary stuff

Not often do we hear comical stories on CBSRMT, but this one was highly entertaining. Gerald Keane wrote an amusing adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's story where the plot, the characters, and the climax were a delight. If only the resolution was better. Not exactly a hilarious ending, but it was a decent ending. The music is unlike anything I have ever heard on OTR. Instead of hearing horrifying music or chilling sounds, there were "ducky" tunes at the 7-minute 23-second mark. "Kooky" would be the best way to describe it, but it fits in the story well. Of course, there's cheery music in ACT-1 and clumsy music in ACT-2 and ACT-3. Not enough sound effects for ACT-1, but the explosion sounds in ACT-2 and the zoo animals in ACT-3 fit the scenes. E.G. Marshall added the expectation of witty circumstances, but it would've been nice to hear him explain on how Leo Tolstoy came up with this kind of a farce. But the best part of all was the cast: Robert Dryden (as the King), Ian Marin (as the Prisoner), Court Benson (as the Captain), and Earl Hammond (as the Minister of Justice). Listen to these talented actors on how they played the roles of men that are dorky, clumsy, vacuous, and jocular in all 3 acts. It's one of the best episodes I've heard.

When a Monegasque kills his wife while trying to do away with her lover, the King sentences him to death. Then the Ministers, realizing that the small kingdom has never held an execution, then try to rent a guillotine but the price is too high. So they borrow one, with the prisoner’s intercession, from Sweden, but it arrives rusted beyond repair. Meanwhile, the prisoner, who is eating every meal as if it were his last, demands gourmet cooking from the kitchen. And the King wonders if Monaco can afford the execution or if he should commute the prisoner’s sentence to life in prison.

I have never read any of Leo Tolstoy's books. But, I will now! This episode was really good. We laughed all the way through it.

Truly delightful and hilarious episode! A nice change of pace and the voice actors are pure gold. Very enjoyable!!

Glad I heard this one. It's definitely different but we'll done. And funny. I wonder if the group of advisors could even boil a hard egg? I give it 5 stars.

Great old story! Reminds me of O'Henry and Mark Twain's writings! I've never read Tolstoy, but will check out the library this weekend for sure!