[Luthien_ Tinuviel]

Well, I live in America, and the first time I went (on the 17th), there was applause when Legolas entered Frodo's bedroom at the end, and then there was applause for Aragorn as well, and I had to put in my vote for Sam. And then everyone clapped at the end (when it said "The End", that is, not during any dialogue or anything). And I quite liked it. The other two times I've been, I can't remember detecting any applause. So I think there was applause on the first night, because that's when all the really big fans go, or so it seems. I think there was some scattered applause at Sam's big heroic moments, too, but I'm not positive. It seems that Americans have no qualms about applauding when they really get into it, but the ones who do get into it are the avid fans and the teenagers (two categories that often overlap).