The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-22
THE WAY TIE CLAQUE rs RUN.
Confessions Of . Member Of the Celebrated
Paris Institution.

One Of those garrulous Paris claquers who
Is constantly revealing the secrets OF his call
ing TO the outside world has been talk ing again.
The chef de claQne in a Paris theatre usually
holds his post because he Ia able to make money
always, whether the manager does or not. He
never pays his employees. who consider them
selves sufficiently rewarded by the pleasure
OF seeing the play. The leaders Of the claaues
are paid by the managers and sometimes
by the artists and If. as it frequently happens.
the head Of the clsaus is a prudent person
the manager may frequently find him a banker
wiling TO lend money to help along the con-
duct Of the theatre for the sake OF his own posi-
ton rather than see the theatre closed. Most
OF the Paris theatre managers are in debt to
the heads OF the claQues. 50 these officials have
additional importance.
Such great men among the claque leaders
az Dorlot and Guerin oil the Coincide Fran
caise, Sol and Nllette OF the Opera, and Gil
raudon OF the Odeon. are paid directly by the
managers and receive from So 10 slOO a week.
They are required To furnish a certain number
OF persons Tor every, performance who VIII
applaud at the signal OF their leader. This
official is compelled 10 consult the stage man
ager and the author OF a piece To get their ideas
as to the proper Iunctures for applause and
must attend a certain number OF the rehearsals
10 learn Just the point at which his services are
required. His assistants are divided among
certain seats under the chandelier in the mid
w VI - - -
title knights Of the Chandelier" They do
their work with the regularity OF a carefully
constructed machine.
one claauer who had not been long employed
at this work did not wait for his leaders sig
nal when a play was lately given at the Fran
Gals but applauded every good scene with such
enthusiasm and good taste that he carried the
audience along with him. Nevertheless he was
disciplined by the chief. who did not want thai
power taken out Of his hands. IT was all very
well for the young GaQuer 10 let his sense OF
art rather than his sense OF duty carry him
away. But such a breach Of the rules had to
be punished with a fine. There was no telling
what might happen at other times when APP
plause was not deserved and came, moreover.
at the wrong time.
In the Theatre Francois the cla9ue includes
sixteen members. The chief has a list and sees
70 IL that they attend personally every perlorm-
ance. They are not always the same. but all
are known TO the chief, They are for the most
part men In small business enterprises or stu
dents hoping some day To be great drama
lists themselves, Thirty men are in the claque
al the Opera and they meet at ten minutes be-
lore ba SdsG y gs r. a R per,orma HSere IS e I3 De s gwen en-
Nillette, the two chiefs, call the roll. Doctors,
lawyers, pupils Of the Conservatoire and per-
sons not able TO pay much l9r tne theatre com
ticket stamped with the number OF his seat.
At the opera they sit in the first rows or behind
the most expensive orchestra seats,
Even in Paris there is a feeling that the in
stitutiOn il antiguated, artificial ard absurd.
but the French are slow to abandon a ny con-
vcntlOn and various recommendations are
gravely urged ~ the excuse for the clasue.
II IL said 10 represent the applause Of the audi
enc. at the close of long Ssnes. when the spec
tators are too wearied to NJ plaud for them
selves. II IL also urged that their interrupt
tons give the artists an opportunity to recover
their breath. This trained applause ia also
said TO reass,re nervous and inexperienced
artists. The seats put at the disposition Of
the chief for his own benefit are usually sold
to tourists at . r. duoed price. and II n, play Is
highly successful and tho seats are in Dc mand,
he can make a very good income in addition to
the sum paid ms. Irregular wage. Some
OF the chiefs have left large fortunes. This
was true Of Augusta and porchars. formerly
of the Opera.
The seats are OF course undesirable and their
buyers are usually inexpe rienced. To be
seated among the claquc with III. noisy out
breaks is indeed an unmitigattd nuisance.
Sometimes the particular singers and actors
pay the chief Of the ciaQue large sums or make
him handsome presents to have his good opin-
ion and get their applause with especial en-
thnsiasm. Nearly every chief ~reoefves from
one or two actors In the theatre regular saln-
ries that amount TO "a much as 500 q month
for greeting them with applarfe when they
enter. or giving them a reception" when they
enter fret: ard the actors who have bought
u are as much gratiiled By the applause as IL
1t were a spontaneous tribute to their greatness.