Question 1

Why is it Deixei-a (direct object) and not Deixei-lhe (indirect object) when I am letting her do something?

Accepted Answer

With causative verbs like deixar (to let) and perception verbs, the pronoun you use depends on the second verb. Because improvisar does not have a direct object here, the person doing the action takes the direct object pronoun (a). If she were improvising a specific thing, like a scene (which would be a direct object), she would become the indirect object: Deixei-lhe improvisar a cena.

Question 2

Could I attach the pronoun to the infinitive instead, saying Deixei improvisá-la?

Accepted Answer

No, because that completely changes the meaning! Deixei improvisá-la means "I let [someone] improvise it" (where a refers to a feminine object, like a song). When the pronoun represents the person you are allowing to act, it must attach to the causative verb (deixei), not the infinitive.

Question 3

What exactly does adereço mean here? I thought it meant an accessory or jewelry.

Accepted Answer

While adereço often means an adornment or fashion accessory, in the context of theater, film, or photography, it translates to a "prop". It is the standard word used for objects handled by actors or performers.

Question 4

As a refresher, could I rewrite this sentence using que instead of a clitic pronoun?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can say Deixei que ela improvisasse com o adereço novo. Using deixar que triggers the subjunctive, and it is a perfectly natural alternative to the infinitive structure used in this sentence, though the clitic version is slightly more concise.

Deixei-a improvisar com o adereço novo.

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