AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 50, 20 June 1914, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

BERNARD’S PICTURES. The programme screened at Bernard’s Theatre last night was of great variety, introducing high-class dramas, educational and “Bathe’s English Gazette.” The star drafagraph, “The Enemy’s Lines,” is a stirring Edison story of the Civil War. “How Moving Pictures are Made” is an astonishing educational feature. “Trapped in a Forest Fire,” a drama by.’the Flying American Co., is a thrilling affair, and deals with Robert Newton, a young business man and his mother, who give a house party at his shooting lodge in the Adirondack Mountains. Among those invited are -Vera Staton, with whom Robert is in love, and Inez Trcmain who loves Robert. To complicate matters, Inez is loved by Tom Vevins, a. friend of Robert, who proposes to her, hut is laughingly refused. Inez, in order that she might win Robert, decides to remove Vera, and to this end, sends for Dick Graham, jui adventurer friend of hers, to come and camp near them; thinking ho can win Vera. Various situations arise in these people’s love affairs, culminating in Graham leaving Inez' to her fate in a burning building. Robert and Vera, cue night after tlae Opera, are in a particularly lovable' mood, and so everything ends happily.

BARRAS AMD RECGIARDO.

There was rather a poor audience it the Town Hall last night when Barras and Rt'ggiardo submitted their entertainment '■ hut those who did attend thoroughly 'appreciated the good •.hings provided, and it is safe to say drat for every one person present last light there will ho three present this 'veiling. The main feature of the entertainment is the marionette portion, which 0 older folk may be infrequently enough seen to be fresh and novel and ,o the’younger folk may be absolutely row, so seldom is a show of the description seen. Mr Barras preyed himself a thorough' master of the' dolls. A niniature stage was rigged up, including even an opera box, hi which an dd gentleman showed himself to lie taking a great interest in‘•the various •'turns.” The performers included Harrry Lauder in ‘‘Stop yer Ticklin’ lock,” TJ. G. Stretton, long-boot dan■er, and representatives of all the varirus characters who shine on tlio vaudeville stage. The dancing was particu'arly good, some very grotesque measures" being ‘ shown, and at times it .eemod as if the little people were icting of themselves; and not as the result of the strings being pulled by Francis Tate Barras, Esq., concealed lomewherc in the background. All the evolutions of the dolls were excellent, /nd a Ilisely act was highly realistic. This part of the entertainment, which van be unreservedly recommended to young and old, is wound up with a highly laughable item, “He Never Pouched Me.” Reggiardo’s part of the programme is no loss entertaining. Re proved himself a juggler of no mean order; doing a great many tricks demanding judgment in a high degree. His balincing feats were novel and were cleanly executed. His “human billiard ;able” act is something much out of the ordinary, and his work with a shirty-pound shot was good to watch. As demonstrating his complete muscular control he jup;gled with the shot, 1 billiard ball and a very small wad of paper. His two poodles provide a good deal of amusement, going through i variety of tricks, and the poodle that balances itself on one paw on Reggiardo’s hand is worth going a long way to see. Reggiardo' also gave an interesting display of sword-swallow-ing, two members of the audience forming a Committee to testify to the genuineness of the swords. A nice display of club-swinging was given by Harry Hastings, some pretty movements being introduced. Altogether, as before stated, the show is one well worthy of patronage.