noun
cheap, low-quality play; worthless performance
Refers to a theatrical performance of such poor quality that it is not worth the admission fee. Often used figuratively.
あの劇団の公演はまるで三文芝居だった。
That theater company's performance was like a cheap, worthless play.
noun
transparent act; see-through scheming
Describes a pretense or scheme so obvious that it fools no one, like a badly acted play.
彼の謝罪は三文芝居にしか見えなかった。
His apology looked like nothing more than a transparent act.
Compound of 三文 (three mon, a very small amount of money) and 芝居 (play, drama). The term likens a poor or obvious performance to a play worth only a few coins.