The Foolish King

Abstract

"Based on Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Emperor's New Clothes.'" King Panache the Great has all sorts of clothes and wants to be admired for them but he is still not satisfied: he needs something special to wear to the Grand Ball. Mr. Humbug and Mr. Tricks arrive claiming a unique fabric woven on their special loom, which "only clever people can see and appreciate, a fabric that is invisible to anyone stupid." Weil has a good recurring phrase as these tailors dress Panache. For example, they help Panache into his trousers "sort of." As Panache walks into the ball with only a crown and boots, a young voice cries "But the king isn't wearing anything!" Then everyone roars with laughter – until they all realize "that they, too, had been fooled by the tricky tailors." In this version, we learn nothing of Panache's reaction or response. And there is no announced moral to this story.