Three Golden Hairs of Grandfather Wisdom NYC Reviews and Tickets

49%

(19 Reviews)

Positive

11%

Mixed

42%

Negative

47%

Members say

Quirky, Disappointing, Confusing, Slow, Ambitious

About the Show

Theatre for the New City presents the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre's interpretation of Czech, Slovak, and Italian fairy tales brought to life by dozens of puppets and a mounted deer's head.

The evening is named for its first story, a Czech tale in which a charcoal burner's son, predestined by his fairy godmother to marry a princess, is sent by the evil King on a quest to find the sun's three golden hairs. Resolving three more difficult tasks along the way, he returns with rich rewards, angering the envious King who gets his comeuppance.

The second tale, 'Salt over Gold,' is a Slovak story with echoes of 'King Lear.' A princess who values her father "only as much as salt" is banished, but returns to save her dad when salt disappears, throwing the kingdom into disarray.

The third tale is a version of the same story, known to Italian readers as 'Dear as Salt,' from Italo Calvino's famous 1956 collection, 'Italian Fables.'

Member Reviews (19)

Disappointing, Banal, Confusing, Excruciating, Oh boy, what a mess.

See it if You have unwavering interest in children's theater, no matter what.

Don't see it if Are hoping your kids will be charmed/delighted by marionette theater. This one's incomprehensible, seems unrehearsed, and poorly executed. Read more

Incoherent, Scattershot, Exquisite marionettes, Ineffective puppeteering

See it if your interest in the aesthetics of historic puppets supersedes the need for an intelligible performance

Don't see it if you have no interest in puppet theater , folk tales or childrens theatre- caliber players Read more

Quirky, Fluffy, Indulgent

See it if you have a love for puppets- some 200 years old, if you're drinking after or just finished. Can be in the moment & laugh at the banal.

Don't see it if you expect theater. Even as a 'fairy tale" it lacked a lot. Not for kids as it's too late in the evening & puppets are scary. Read more

Fluffy, Quirky, Bizarre, Grating, Weird

See it if You are into Czech puppetry (which involves rather non-family-friendly puppets and story elements, but is overdone as if for young children)

Don't see it if You don't want to listen to grating falsetto voices, are creeped out by puppets, want a traditional show, don't care for political jokes.