In the kirsten dunst movie about Marie Antoinette they show her clapping after a performance and getting the rest of the people to clap with her which was apparently not allowed. I read her biography and the author mentions this moment in history but fails to explain it. It's been driving me nuts. Anyone have any ideas?
I've actually never heard of this before. Could you share the title and author of that biography?
This is super late but Fraser's biography states that applauding following a theatre or opera performance was simple not considered appropriate within the French aristocracy. It was used to represent a stark contrast between the formality of the French court with the more liberal one of Austria.