Fred Radix – La claque

895 in a Parisian theater. Auguste Levasseur, head of the claque, leads a troupe of accomplices who, mingling with the audience, are responsible for applauding at the right moments. An applauded play is a successful play, but with two hours to go before opening night, Auguste is abandoned by his claque. He instructs Fauvette, the orchestra?s musician, and Dugommier, the theater?s stage manager, to find replacements to save the evening?s performance.
With only an hour and a half to go before opening night, the novice clappers had to rehearse extracts from the show, which comprised no less than five acts, forty musicians and thirty set changes! It's an arduous task, but there are only three of them, and tonight their careers are down to a slap!