Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-28
4 DOCUMENT OF INSTRUCTIONS
The Chef of the CIaquers and His
Assistants at Work.
THE CABALE; ITS METHODS

IL was card of instructions for the use
OF the claQue at the Grand Opera. upon
the occasion Of a production of Faust"
and indicating to them at what points they
were to applaud and what manner Of APP
plause 1t was to be.
This is how the card reads:
First act lend of monologue)-When Faust
exclaims Cod for the third time. slight
applause.
Second act-At the exit of Faust and
Mephistopheles. slight applause
Third act-After the Cavatina shouts of
bravo"
Fourth act-After the duet of Faust and
Marguerite. slight applause
After each act loud cries, Encore"
Marguerite:
Second act-After her grand air shouts
bravo" continuous.
Third act-During her waltz song. after
the trilL unstinted applause. long con-
tinued, loud.
Third act-After the Romance aux
Etoiles, great applause.
Fourth act-After the scene at the
church, ordinary applause.
After third. fourth and fifth acts, loud
calls Encore"
1t was elevating chartered applause to an
art, and was prompted to seek the be ct
authority on theatrical matters in Paris
to learn more of this recognized function
IN every play house but one in the city
That one is the Renaissance Theater, the
scene OF Sarah Bernhardt's appearances
ana the house selected by Charles Froh-
man for his presentation Of Secret Service"
In French next winter. The divine Sarah
will tolerate no such deception as a paid.
ctt-ahd-dr1ed ciaque: she does not have to.
tut others less confident of the public are
re1o1ced to make use of this phantom of
popular approval. this rented clamor that
they deceive themselves even into believ-
ing is the voice Of the people.
The Chef of the Claque.
The chef Of the claque at the Grand
Opera is a man Of intelligence and under
stands the entire repertoire that house is
accustomed to present to its patrons. He
said to me: The chef of claque is a regu-
lar attache to the administration of the
theater. He answers the purpose of the
press agent you have in your country, and
answers 1t much more effectively think
In ordinary theaters the chef Is paid a
small salary and given a certain number
OIL tickets and seats for each performance
the sale OF those tickets is his peruu.site
In more important theaters, the chef re-
ceives higher salary and also the seats
he Is generally given from twenty to forty
seats, according to the character of the
production If he sells those seats, of
course at reduced price, he does so only
to those who make solemn agreement to
keep their eyes on him and follow his lead
In the applause. Sometimes cards are given
as the one you have seen, instructing each
cIaquer when to applaud. but as a rule they
must watch the chef and take their cue
from him.
Utility of the Claque.
THAT is the reason the claque is general
ly concentrated. mostly in the upper gal
lery, with few on each side of the lower
| or first gallery. The chief is then in a seat
in the front row Of the first gallery, and
| the entire claque can see him. AS 10 the
rrfi1i Of 81, T til,
My idea is that the public is often modest
and hesitates In beginning the applause
that some really deserving artist Is entitled
to, but when some one who is familiar with
the play and realizes how well the part
was acted gives the signal by applauding
the hesitatfng public is encouraged and
gives expression to its feelings heartily.
Besides this. 1t helps the artist. and he or
she realizes the audience is interested"
fact the chef neglected to state. but
fact nevertheless, is that those making
tfeir debut present to the chef a sum of
money from 200 to 300 francs in amount
| (S30 to $40 that the claque may make an
uproar at every entrance and exit of the
debutante- In many instances the claque
has injured rather than aided the artist by
appiauding at the wrong moment, by break
Ing into the middle of a solo or otherwise
| making a contretemps. 1t is stated that a
well-known tenor in Paris always gives the
chef hundred francs every night he sings.
In order to insure a continuation of his
success, even though he has attained IT.
The author of the new play is also ex-
pected to contribute. and his portion varies
from hundred to thousand francs ac-
cording to the Consequence of the produce
ton and the uncertainty of its success In
addition to this the author usually buys
twenty or thirty seats and presents them
10 the chef In order to augment his force
ana bring so many more hands and lungs
In play.
The Artists Are Willing.
Nor arc these payments made unwillingiy:
Tor when recently the suppression of the
claque was seriously considered at the
Opera the artists threatened to strike if
the applause they felt confident of receiv-
ing and that they could rely upon was
wtthdrawn. So emphatic was the protest
OF the artists that probably the life of the
ciaque Is assured for another decade with
out question. ~
ClaQuer and Critic
A humorous bit Of audacitv on tbs nor.
Of a. well-known chef of claoue nan,ad
Girard is much jol1ed about He wrote
TIE editor-in-chief Of one of the LEADING
papers asking from him the post of dr..
u-aeic editor, on the ground that The Then
incumbent told the truth about the ACTOR.
wnich was not agreeable. and in explain,
ing why he could afford to perform the
Duties OF dramatic editor at q verv lou
inquire. said: Il make considerable nrofit
In my business now. p'o"'
hSt- ny Selun8 tneater tickets that 4
receive for 20 francs and dispose Of for
$50 francs "a hor
second By the applause braves. etc
tnat sell for first presentations and de.
81 ts and sometimes, according to the ex-
formances." PC
Returning to this subject of recompense
IN connection with the letter of Girard,
authors pay stated and fixed sums each
week for appiauding certain sentiments m
the lines. and in the other ways eyidencif q
public approval Of the moral and literary
value OF the production, they also paw
Tor applauding certain characters consid.
cred by them the strongest from a play-
wrigfts standpoint. regardless of who
may impersonate them. One author maid
10 louis for the first night of his new play.
another paid % louis to the regular chef
employed by the theater, and then maid
10 louis to an outside chef whom he
brought In and provided with seats in or
der that the success of his piece might he
placed beyond doubt.
well-known actress here presented the
chef of the theater where she eeneraIIy
appears with valuable diamond pin,
while another gave him an expensive gold
watch, mounted In brflliants; while a very