Every now and then, someone blunders into the truth. When he doesn't realize it, that makes the tableau all the more enjoyable.
The important thing is to remember the article's reasoning. It's bang on.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then....
"When he doesn't realize it, that makes the tableau all the more enjoyable."
I had to come back to this remark. For you know what doesn't fit? Tableau.
PH, people, normal people don't use this word. Especially not in idle internet chit chat. However, people who live in NYC use this word, esp if they live near the Village.
Esp if for a living they work for the NYT fashion section, or music review section ... esp opera.
Juana la Loca .... Gian Carlos Menotti...opera. Folks who can talk about this kind of stuff, who look forward to writing about Spoleto in May ... these are the kinds of folks who use the word 'tableau' in everyday usage....
I bet you have a large opera collection. And I'm betting you like, ....yes ... Mahler.
"...doesn't realize it" .... sheesh.