play the gallery—act the part of spectators (applauding, etc.):
- We were constantly called in to play the gallery to his witty remarks.
play to the gallery—set out to win popularity in a cheap and showy way:
- The attorney seemed less concerned with the furtherance of justice than with playing to the gallery of reporters.
Cf.: gallery play—said of cheap showmanship:
- His co-propagandists arranged one such emotionally manipulative “gallery play.”