Opera hat characteristic snapping sound heard upon opening a gibus suggested a third name, the "chapeau claque", "claque" being the French word for "slap". Opera hat An opera hat, also called a chapeau claque or gibus, is a top hat variant that is collapsible through a spring system, originally intended for less spacious venues, such as theatre and opera visits. Typically made of satin in black colour, its advantage is that it folds vertically through a push or a snap on the top of the hat, in order to be conveniently stored in a wardrobe or under the seat. Invertably, it opens
Top Hat (musical) to the precept of deferred gratification”. "London Evening Standard" critic Henry Hitchings described the show as “a bit slow hitting its stride”. "Top Hat" received positive reviews on blogs, with Zoe Craig describing it on the "Londonist" as “pure, fun, cheery escapist entertainment”. Bechtler's set design and Deamer’s choreography were praised (“This clever collaboration is clearly evident in every scene transition as the cast dance and interact with the set, making the whole changeover seem like a fluid part of the story") on "BestOfTheatre". Despite its mixed reception by critics, "Top Hat" won the Best Night Out award at the