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.
That theater company's performance was like a cheap, worthless play.
transparent act; see-through scheming
Describes a pretense or scheme so obvious that it fools no one, like a badly acted play.
His apology looked like nothing more than a transparent act.
Means 'three mon' (a trifling sum); used as a prefix to indicate cheapness or worthlessness, as in 三文小説 (cheap novel).
Means 'play' or 'drama'; 三文芝居 specifically emphasizes the low quality or obviousness of the performance.
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.