Essay Questions

How does Mari and LV's flat burn down?

LV has just exploded against Ray who is demanding she sing again even though she is burnt out. After she pushes him down he leaves the flat, breaking up with Mari and slamming the door shut. When he does a plugged-in iron falls onto the floor and catches the apartment on fire.

What is the significance of Mari breaking LV's records?

After the fire Mari comes back to the burnt apartment to find LV's record collection and she smashes all of them, believing she has stolen her life by causing Ray to walk out on her. But the it is far more significant than that, Mari has smashed the one connection that LV has to her father, a man and parent who listened to her and loved her for who she is and shared with her his love. This is why it sets LV off against her mother.

Why does LV do impressions instead of singing in her own voice?

LV has a collection of records from her father and she has learned to do spot on impressions of the likes of Judy Garland and Billie Holliday to name only a couple. We listen as LV does multiple impressions as she yells at Ray who is trying to get her to do another night at the club. The impressions have become her armor against the world as she hasn't been able to speak with her mother for many years; Mari gives LV no chance to speak and she doesn't listen to her daughter. This has caused LV to shut down to the point that she can barely get a word out, gasping for support. Thus, her impressions speak for her as she is unable to do it for herself.