Oh, the deceit that binds us.

A miller tells the king his daughter has a straw-to-gold weaving talent, and the fibber's daughter takes the heat.

She must spin a room full of straw into gold by morning or else.

A string version of the fairy tale, Rumpelstiltskin, will be shown by the Columbia Marionette Theater group at the Ritz Theater on Main Street during Oktoberfest Saturday.

The three free shows begin at 10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

And just how do the manipulators handle the puppets so easily?

Ann Moseley, new chairperson of the Board of Director for the Newberry Community Players, says the Columbia group will return onstage after each performance for a question-and-answer session.

The theater opens before the marionette shows at 9 a.m. and will be open until 3 p.m. with refreshments and information about the Newberry Community Player's productions, who perform at the Ritz.

The Players annually put on around four shows, their last being High School Musical this past spring.

“We wanted to be able to share our historic theater with the community,” said Moseley by e-mail. “We provide the shows [the marionettes] for free to help promote downtown Newberry and Oktoberfest. We also wanted to have an opportunity to share with visitors the other productions and volunteer opportunities that are available at the theater year round.”

The Ritz will also have applications for its children's department, Newberry Young Players, if youth ages 5 to 15 are interested in taking part in a February performance of Aesop's, Oh So Slightly Updated, Fables.

Free children's workshops will take place at the Ritz on Saturdays throughout the fall and culminate with an Aesop production Feb. 6 through the 8th.

The Ritz is available for rent, and in the past has been used for rock concerts, dance and choral recitals.

The Players' production of Sanders Family Christmas will open the play season with performances on Nov. 21, 22 and 23 and Dec. 5, 6 and 7.

On and offstage volunteer positions are ongoing, says Moseley.

For more information, visit the Ritz Web site www.theRitzOnline.com, send an e-mail to board@theRitzOnline.com or call the box office at 276-1963 and leave a message.