What a strange, stylish opening. Joanne feels real right away, not just because of the setting, but because of details like the “Montgomery Ward special,” the Lucky Strikes, the Ronson lighter, the wrinkled blouse, the scuffed heels. That mix of the ordinary and the surreal gives the whole piece charm.

And once the iron gates open and the baroque urns, the hedges, and that mysterious light come into view, it slips into a dream-state without losing its footing. The centaur entrance is especially good. “Well, my eyes are truly stuffed with wonder now, Ray” has exactly the right tone, startled, sharp, a little funny, and still full of awe. It feels theatrical, eerie, and confident in its own oddness.