Petrushka is divided into four scenes (tableaux).

Scene 1 - The Shrovetide Fair

The first scene introduces us to the 1830 Shrovetide Fair. There are many people in the crowd dancing, shouting and making music including a master of ceremonies, some drunken revelers, an organ player, a couple of dancers and some drummers.

After a while, The Magician appears from a small theatre. He plays his flute, enchanting the crowd. The theatre curtains open revealing three puppets: The Moor, The Ballerina and Petrushka. One by one, The Magician brings the puppets to life and they all begin to dance.

Scene 2 - Petrushka's room

Petrushka is kicked back into his room inside the theatre. He falls to the ground and starts pitying himself. He expresses his infatuation with The Ballerina and his hatred of The Magician.

When Petrushka notices that The Ballerina has snuck into his room, he begins jumping around wildly. This frightens The Ballerina so she leaves. Petrushka once again despairs and curses The Magician.

Scene 3 - The Moor's room

The Moor is sitting on a couch in his room, holding a coconut. He stands up and tries to cut the coconut open with his sword. Unable to break it, he assumes the coconut must be a god and begins praising it.

The Magician sends The Ballerina into The Moor's room. She is attracted to The Moor and plays a short trumpet tune for him. The two then start dancing a waltz together.

Suddenly, Petrushka breaks into the room and tries to attack The Moor, but he is too weak. The Moor attacks in return and Petrushka flees the room. The Ballerina faints and The Moor chases after Petrushka.

Scene 4 - The Shrovetide Fair at evening

Outside at the fair, it is now evening and snow has started falling. There is still lots of music-making, dancing and excitement. Several characters enter including a peasant with a dancing bear, some coachmen, and some masqueraders.

Suddenly, Petrushka flees from the theatre, being chased by The Moor, who is being chased by The Ballerina. The Moor draws his sword and kills Petrushka. The crowd is horrified and police arrive to question The Magician. The Magician calms the crowd by reminding them that Petrushka is only a puppet.

The crowd leaves and The Magician begins carrying Petrushka's body back to the theatre. Suddenly, Petrushka's ghost appears above the theatre and begins angrily shouting at The Magician. The Magician is terrified, so drops Petrushka's body and runs away.

The Petrushka chord is a polychord, first heard in Scene 2. It is played as a tremolo between two triads: a C major triad and an F# major triad. These two chords (and key centres) are vastly different so create a dissonant harmonic clash.