claque. Playwrights have had an advantage over most authors in the past because they or their backers could hire a claque, a body of people to applaud their work. The French, who origi- nated the system in 1820 or so, had it down to a science. Cla- queurs were divided into: Commissaires—memorized the play and pointed out its literary merits. Rieurs—hired to laugh at the jokes. Pleureurs—women hired to cry when appropriate. Chatouilleurs—kept the audience in good spirits. Bisseurs—hired to cry “bis!,” “encore!” |