Petrushka is the famous tale of a rag puppet who has many adventures, both happy and sad, before he falls into the cruel hands of the Puppet Master who puts him on the stage to be knocked about and laughed at.
Petrushka is no match for the warrior Moor, nor for the Skeleton-both traditional characters in the puppet show in St. Petersburg. But the pretty little ballerina, Holubichka, is quite different, and Petrushka falls in love with her. Surely one so pretty must be kind-she cannot love that fat, ferocious-looking Moor she dances with! Petrushka cannot bear to see the two together. He resolves to fight the Moor-and this time he will not fall flat on his nose to the laughter of the crowd.
The romantic ending expresses the dramatic truth: nothing has power over the spirit of Petrushka. Even a rag puppet can become immortal if given life in the imagination of children. JAN KUDLACEK's evocative illustrations bring Petrushka, his friends, and their plight magnificently to life.