With her interest in researching her roles to find their complexities, she probably found her ideal acting role here. The best portrayers of Pat--Carolann Page in the original production, Janis Kelly at the Met in 2011--play Pat as intellectually curious, but broken down by her complicated marriage and the demands of her job.
They're being more playful with interpretation in this production at the Paris Opera; Pat is accompanied on her tour of China in Act II, Sc. i by a gigantic Chinese dragon (see photos inside).