In Sanremo there is an orchestra conductor also for the applause

Sanremo, from our correspondent. Just as in ancient prison ships there was one who beat the rhythm of rowing on the drum, so inside the Ariston theater in Sanremo, during the Festival, there is a very special figure who gives orders to the audience in the hall. Paying public, attention, not extras. Indeed, paying dearly, since the tickets cost up to a thousand euros each. Get up. You sat down. You scream. Clap your hands. Rejoice. “I have the honor to say that the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella is in the room”, he announces at one point Amadeus, presenter and artistic director. And that, the drum beater: “Stand up, ahooo, I mean stand up, stand up, there’s the President”. All obviously perform, like Corazzieri. In the name of spontaneity, however. Then comes Roberto Benigni. Same scene: “Guys, stand up… it’s Benigni”. Everyone standing. Again. And if by chance Benigni makes a joke that isn’t funny, as happens (not all jokes succeed even in Benigni), in short, when the audience doesn’t laugh or maybe doesn’t laugh enough, the drummer gets a little angry: “Aho, what are you doing sleeping? You have to laugh.” And then something almost unbelievable happens. A phenomenon that one day could, who knows, attract sociologists or neuropsychiatrists, the same ones who may have applied themselves, for example, to the definition of the Stockholm syndrome. In fact, as soon as this man whose incongruous charisma evidently lies in his baritone voice and imposing (not to mention threatening) physicality shouts “you must laugh”, the paying audience really laughs. Even though they might as well not do it, rebel. They laugh seriously. They all laugh. And a lot too. Outrage. They even laugh at jokes that aren’t funny. The phenomenon is certainly one of the most singular. A dark-skinned guy sitting in row eight of the gallery, let’s say, a middle-aged man who until a minute before was absorbed in his cell phone, or perhaps asleep, wakes up and suddenly shouts “grande Benigni”. So, suddenly. So the satisfied guardian throws him a candy. Not metaphorical. A real candy, like the peanuts at the zoo towards the macaque cage.