DAILY MEMO: ENTERTAINMENT:

Audience reaction isn’t always what it seems

Friday, Aug. 21, 2009 | 2 a.m.

This should have stayed in 'South Park' creator's drawer (8-19-2009)

"Cannibal! The Muscial"

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Something funny happened at the theater the other night. But it wasn’t on the stage.

Last Friday, during an early performance of “Cannibal! The Musical” (which I reviewed in Wednesday’s Sun), I began to notice laughter and applause out of any rational proportion to what was happening theatrically.

So boisterous and loud were the five men and women sitting in front of me that I moved to the back of the house so I could hear the actors over their shrieking and hooting. (I wasn’t the only one who changed seats.) I occasionally monitored the audience for responses during the show, and easily identified three noticeable clusters of suspicious over-reactors. The rest of the crowd responded more or less normally.

It certainly wasn’t the first time I’ve witnessed this phenomenon of faux-applause, in which part of the audience seems to be in on the act.

But it’s not usually so obvious. And it was all the more obnoxious because of it.

It’s called a claque — think of it like a living laugh track or embedded cheerleaders.

Professional applauders

The term comes from the French word for “to clap,” and refers to the common practice and long history of professional applauders at theaters and opera houses dating to 4 B.C. Athenian playwright Philemon frequently defeated Menander in comedy competitions at the theater of Dionysus — not because his jokes killed, but because he swayed the judges by packing the seats with loudly laughing compatriots.

The claque is certainly not foreign to politics, either, as evidenced by the crowds at recent health care town-hall meetings. The Roman emperor Nero was accompanied on speaking tours by a claque of 5,000 knights and soldiers, applauding by executive order.

In the 19th century heyday of the practice, a manager of a Parisian theater or opera house would order up any number of claqueurs from an agency. And the claqueurs started to specialize: Some judged where claqueurs would be most optimally placed (near critics, for instance), others laughed loudly at every joke, others were good at faking tears, and last but least were those who leapt to their feet, demanding ovations and encores.

Ethan Mordden’s witty “Fireside Companion to the Theatre” details one such preplanned claque-attack on an opening night.

“At the first night, I led the attack myself 33 times,” wrote the head claque. “We developed three acclamations, four hysterias, two portions of frisson, four encores of applause, and two interminable explosions.”

The phenomenon eventually revealed its dark side — extortion and sabotage — and singers were sometimes warned to pay up in order not to get booed.

A form of insurance

The subject of claques brings up an uncomfortable truth, which is that audiences en masse are easily led, often uncertain of how to respond without external cues. Many a comedy has played to quiet crowds until the reviews come out pronouncing it “hilarious!” and “uproarious!” A padded audience may serve as a sort of insurance for a nervous producer.

I’ve noted this phenomenon previously in print, and have been subsequently accused of “reviewing the audience,” which is often followed by, “Didn’t you notice everyone else laughing?” and “Did we see the same show?”

There’s really no way to prove that a claque has infiltrated a show, although one dead giveaway last Friday night was the cluster of laughing-till-they-cried guys sporting “Cannibal!” T-shirts.

Thinking more generously, a contemporary claque is likely made up of loyal and supportive friends and fans of the performers.

But perhaps the theater companies involved might consider offering a brief acting seminar for their opening audiences, coaching them in convincing, realistic laughter, not braying and spraying.

If you’ve got good stuff, you don’t have to fake it to make it.

Discussion: 11 comments so far…

By funnyguy34

8/21/09 at 9:43 a.m.

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You make an interesting point, however, the show has been put on twice before, and to great reviews. The show was pretty unknown then, playing at the Onyx where it had just as many laughs then as it did at Friday's show. Without, might I add, a claque. The show is popular for locals. The show sold t-shirts, DVD's CD's, and other merch. A YEAR AGO! When a fan hears their favorite band is playing a show in their town, and the fan goes to the concert wearing the band's t-shirt, is he part of a claque? Would you acuse the band of "padding the audience?" Is it fair to say that a group of friends may share a common interest and go to an event together? And so what if there are friends of actors in the audience? Did you know that the cast doesn't get comp tickets for friends or family? Everyone of the cast's friends and family paid to get in! You obviously have something against the show, the director, the theater, or something to be picking on this show so much! Did they not pay you off to write something good? Did all the comments get to you from your last piece of dribble, that, like a six year old, you have to lash back out? PEOPLE LOVE THE SHOW!!! GET OVER IT!! You didn't like it for some strange, unknown reason (Before the show even opened, as we find out.). Others do. Why don't you pick on a show that deserves major critisism...Like BeLIEve!
By insurgo

8/21/09 at 10:52 a.m.

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Joe, this is John Beane the director and producer. We have never in the history of the theatre done anything remotely like padding an audience. Thats completely underhanded and shoddy, I would never do it, and this article pisses me off. A few friends of the show that are also actors had a few drinks and a great time, and they have very loud laughs. I talked to them about it at intermission and they toned it down. I would never ever ever do anything like pad an audience. You should really ask me at least ONE question, give me a chance to at least comment, before throwing this kind of muck around. I dont know what the french call this kind of story but I call it horsesh-t and disappointing , man. I dont mind that you didnt like the show - I respect you - but this article is offensive and untrue. And whats really ridiculous here, is that you didnt even ask me about this. If its worthy of this article, it was worthy of a conversation. I would never pad an audience or a show. Im probably the only guy in town who wouldnt. I would never do that.
By YoMama

8/21/09 at 11:48 a.m.

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This piece of crap borders on libel. Careful Joe, you're likely to get your little newspaper in a heap of trouble. Throwing around accusations like this because you're butt-hurt that your review wasn't well received is a dangerous thing. A bad review is one thing, you can't please everyone, but to go off the deep-end like this and lash out because of some comments on your review will get you into trouble. I hope the director/producer John Beane will contact your editor about this defamatory piece of "journalism".
All the best,
YoMama
By Breon

8/21/09 at 11:55 a.m.

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Wow, this is incredibly insulting. Joe, why didn't you check your facts before you published this defamation?
By Joe Brown (Staff)

8/21/09 at 12:11 p.m.

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Ack! I'm under attack by a claque! Keep the comments coming (I'm especially enjoying the psychological insights into my character, credentials and motivations).

While you're here, use this comment space to say nice things about your show!

Joe
By TBlosser

8/21/09 at 1:18 p.m.

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Mr. Brown,

I found this article very interesting, because normally I think I would be considered to be a culprit. (However, I did not attend Cannibal the night that you did.)

It is a fairly well known fact in the local acting community that I am a VERY big laughter, many jokes have been aimed at me for such. I will admit that sometimes I do guffaw and bray at high volume, and I have actually been yelled at by fellow audience members for such. Once at a production on Broadway!

Many of my friends have expressed excitement when seeing me in attendance. Some say that the could hear me in the greenroom, and a few times I have received suggestions like, "Oh good you're here! Laugh hard!"

BUT, having said that, I have never laughed at something I didn't genuinely think was funny. I have even felt badly in such instances when a director/actor friend expected my vocals to relieve an audience of their self-consciousness about laughter, and I could barely crack a smile during the performance.

Yet,I have never felt like I was instructed to do anything to "help" a show that way. I have attended shows where an audience is a little unsure whether laughter is appropriate. Sometimes others need that one ringing snort to allow them to show their own amusement!

Now I also have an odd since of humor, so my laughter is often all that is heard. In many cases this occurs when I am watching someone I have worked with before and know fairly well, but in those instances, when it might not be considered "appropriate", I am not trying sway anyone.

Also I hate sitting by a reviewer for fear that my reaction will sway theirs.

OK, so to end this rambling, I was wondering if you could give me some advice. What is the right amount of laughter? Because, I don't want to be personally accused of being part of a claque. Or, at the very least, could I get a suggestion on how much I should charge for future services?
Cuz, I've just been giving it away!

Thank you for your time and I apologize if this sounded like an attack as well.

Tony B

PS: In defence of the cast of Cannibal, I attended the show during it's first run at the Onyx, and I laughed my butt off! I saw it twice! I did enjoy it more the first time, because it seemed the improvisational feel was more about continuing the story than the second when it seemed to be about one-upmanship. I am also excited to see the remounting at Town Center.
By Breon

8/21/09 at 5:19 p.m.

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Its really laughable to suggest that anyone in the audience for "Cannibal!" was paid to laugh. Just how much money do you think Insurgo has, Joe?
I hope you decide to retract this article when you realize that all of the audience reactions were genuine. Also, I hope that none of my comments offended you. I respect your opinion as a reviewer, that's why this article comes as such a shock to me.
By dclvny

8/21/09 at 9:51 p.m.

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This article strikes me as pretty damn inappropriate. Though I no longer permanently live in Vegas and thus haven't been able to see Cannibal in either incarnation, I would never assume of any community theatre group in our fine city that they would stoop so low as to pad the audience. Can't you accept that some audience members might - God forbid - find something funny that you don't? I agree that this borders on libelous and honestly, in this day and age, we should all be thanking our stars that people are coming out to support Las Vegas community theatre and that a show can be so successful as to deserve a second run, particularly at a beautiful professional theatre such as the one at Town Square!

And for the record, no, I am in no way connected with Insurgo and I know a grand total of one person involved in the show. I'm just offended as a member in good standing of the Vegas theatre community that a reviewer would be so unprofessional as to publish something like this. I might frequently disagree with the RJ's Tony del Valle on his reviews, but even he wouldn't dare attempt to discredit a director like this.

This should be retracted.

Dana C.
By stiletospice

8/23/09 at 5:47 p.m.

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Hey Joe,

My comment is in two parts but I wanted to own up and confess! I was one of the people you thought was part of "the claque". And here's my story"""

Unfortunately, all my life I have stood out because I was tall and had the biggest most ridiculous laugh that should not come out of a lady, or so I was told, but I just couldn't help it, no matter what I did to suppress it, it always reared its ugly head when I would find something funny. I have been made fun of it all my life and people around me have thought it very inappropriate at times and this has left me feeling embarrassed and ashamed by my actions. Do you know how hard it is to contain a laugh when it's silent around you and you have to hold it in so much that snoot starts oozing from your nose and you start making grunting noises like a pig? Anyway back to my story. So on moving to Vegas I met a person who out did me in the laughter category and we became instant best buddies, then another came along, and another and another I just couldn't believe it I was now excepted and not alone in this world, I was finally part of a group, me and my laugh would fit in perfectly. I couldn't understand where all these "over the top" people had been all my life, and I quickly learned they had all been attending live theatre shows. I kicked myself for trying to conform to the movie theater goers group and was so relieved when I was told its okay to laugh in public if you find things funny.
By stiletospice

8/23/09 at 5:47 p.m.

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On the particular night in question a group of 4, not 5, friends did meet up for a Friday night out, we meet in Town Square early in the evening to enjoy some of the finer things in life, you see we thought we had earned it as we had been working hard all week long trying to live the American dream. So we frequented a wonderful establishment called Blue Martini. We were then headed to see Cannibal the musical as some of our friends were in this particular show. We were running a little late and was afraid the show had already started so after paying for a full priced ticket in the lobby (for which I have the receipt) we entered the theatre to find that there weren't many seats left for a group of 4 to sit together so we did in fact sit in front of you. I have never met you before in my life and have no idea what you look like, but now I remember who you are as it made me laugh even harder when you and the other lady moved away from us. I am not condoning our actions at all, in fact I am very conscious of other peoples feelings around me from all my years of restraining myself, and I even asked my friend, who was louder than I, to keep it down otherwise we may end up with one entire side of the theatre all to ourselves! I am guilty of laughing out of character as I have a different sense of humor to others generally and for some odd reason I thought it hilarious when an alien appeared on stage for no reason and the fat guy couldn't get through the door! I'm sure the cast in 'Wait Until Dark' probably didn't appreciate my laughter this past Friday either when one of the cast tripped up the stairs, but isn't that the beauty of live theatre, anything can happen! I most definitely was not asked to be at the Cannibal show in any way shape or form, and I made the conscious decision to go watch a show all on my very own. I am sorry if my laughter to you was not "realistic" and that you thought I was part of the "contemporary claque" and if I offend you in anyway I am truly sorry. One thing that baffles me though, in your article you said "Many a comedy has played to quiet crowds until the reviews come out pronouncing it "hilarious!" and "uproarious!" Does this mean that reviewers are so easily led and have no mind of their own? However, to make this incident up to you I am inviting you to come and hang out for a night with the "laughter for life" group so you can see for yourself that there are some people in this world that don't want to be miserable all the time. We can go watch a movie or something!
By YoMama

8/25/09 at 1:54 p.m.

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Or you can take him to see Cannibal again, Stiletospice. Show him where the humor lies!