Those that yearn for the pleasures of pre-cinematic spectacular entertainment in Paris could do a lot worse than take in a show at the marionette theatre in the Luxembourg Gardens. The marionettes are housed in a purpose built theaterette that has been run by the Desarthis family since 1932 . Staring the ever resilient 19th C. character of Guignol the show demands a high level of audience participation to cast its narrative spell. The audience, which consist mostly of overexcited enfants and their minders, writhes and howls as the action unfolds amidst the painted props and rudimentary lighting and sound effects. Within such an atmosphere it easy, momentarily at least, to cast oneself back to a time when the screen was yet to come alive.