fashion and reflective colors make downtown new york of the 80s a stylized east village wonderland for roberta in "desperately seeking susan". in contrast, her suburban home is presented in cool pastels and hard edges—an atmosphere where social mores and false fronts are more rigidly enforced. performing as a magician's assistant, where costume and artifice is a requirement, she hones her survival skills that lead to personal satisfaction on and off the stage.