"Ring of Keys" Question — Page 2

"I think contrasting Young Allison's more precocious vocabulary with a childish lack of vocabulary is brilliant, honestly. She's been raised by a man who values aesthetic flourish, in literature and appearance. But she faces something that not only is less refined, but something that she simply lacks words to fully describe, so she has to rely on a simple, straightforward description (lace up boots, just-right clothes, a ring of keys).
"

This.

It's the first moment she realizes "different" doesn't mean "the only one."

"LOL, edmund!
Kad, that's an interesting point. I thought "just-right" was a wonderfully childlike description, though I see ghostlight's point about "swagger" and "bearing," though I can't say it bothered me at all at the time."

When I was Young Allson's age, I used words like "gregarious," mostly because I liked reading aquarium fish reference books. Kids are totally weird- but using words like that help them feel more adult.

Updated On: 6/8/15 at 06:12 PM

"This is semi-off topic of this thread, but is Sydney Lucas the only girl who plays Young Allison? My wife asked how an 11 year old gets nominated for a Tony without her alternates getting nominated (ie the Matildas, the Billy Elliots...)?"

Sydney is the only actress who plays Young Alison. There is one understudy, a girl - Gabriella Pizzolo, for all three children's parts. The boys are young enough (and not huge parts) that they can be covered by a girl.

As far as I know Gabriella has yet to go on, at least not for Young Alison.

It was a great performance. But I thought she was talking about a janitor. Didn't know keys were a lesbian thing.

I would argue that the song is as perfect a theater song as has ever been composed. Every word weighted, carefully chosen, and evocative. She is a bright, precocious, curious child; her vocabulary matches her intuition, her innate powers of perception. But more importantly, these are lyrics, not tape-recorded musings; they are crafted, they take the language of a child and heighten them within boundaries. Lyrics are character-specific, yet ... well, lyrical. "The just-right clothes..." is one of the most pitch-perfect phrases ever given a character. Critically, watch the layers that Lucas uncovers in "I know you." If there's a master class on interpretation here, it should be about those repeated words at the song's conclusion. Stunning. Perfection.

Updated On: 6/8/15 at 08:56 PM

It is, however, art. Like it, dis it, trash talk it, the artist created it, and glory be.

^^ Smart people, the above two posters.

HeadInjury, it is a long established standard here that what people post are their opinions. Your constant efforts at threadus interruptus are starting to get more pathological than when you wanted to out me to my employer. As you said then, just sayin'.

Updated On: 6/8/15 at 09:38 PM

" I thought "just-right" was a wonderfully childlike description, though I see ghostlight's point about "swagger" and "bearing," though I can't say it bothered me at all at the time."

It doesn't bother me now. I agree with Auggie27's description of the song. It was only when the creatives started talking about it, explaining it, that I started thinking about their choices and intent - which is why I usually don't read or listen to creatives, preferring to let their work speak for them.

"I think keys as sexuality code was always more of a gay male thing."

Perhaps - but personally I didn't know a butch lesbian in the 80s who didn't wear keys on her belt. Few if any of them were delivery women. It was a statement.

Art can be subjective, but it also has objective elements as well. I haven't seen the show, but those who have have unanimously pointed out that Alison is established as the verbally precocious child of a family of readers. Having been such a child myself (which is not to claim I am in any way superior now; I just wasn't ever addressed in juvenile terms), there was nothing in Allison's use of words that struck me as out-of-character.

More importantly and whether or not Alison intuits a keyring as a symbol of lesbianism (doubtful), keys are a famous source of fascination for children from infancy on, a handy "toy" when no other is available. Alison's fascination with them makes sense on its own terms.

But keys are also rich symbols. Keys open new doors; they are the sine qua non of new directions, new possibilities. And for that reason, keys = power; and the woman with a large key ring (note that shape while you're at it) is the most powerful person in the room.

How could Allison NOT want her? Hell, now that I think about it, *I* want her! (This is a joke. No, I don't think Allison is thinking of literal intercourse yet.)

I think Jason's precocity has more of a stereotypical Jewish bent for largely comedic purposes (he's 10 but sounds 40!).

I didn't intend a commentary on Jewish v. Gentile literacy.

Just that Jason's precocity is intended entirely differently from Alison's (setting aside the fact that Alison is an actual person).

Updated On: 6/8/15 at 10:40 PM