The article critiques Broadway's trend towards solo performances, focusing on Jean Smart's role in 'Call Me Izzy.' While Smart's talent is acknowledged, the production suffers from poor script and direction, failing to effectively utilize her skills. The character Izzy faces grim circumstances, revealing her struggles in a difficult relationship. The playwright attempts to evoke Southern literary styles but often results in muddled language, ultimately detracting from the performance's potential. The piece highlights the importance of cohesive storytelling in solo shows for them to resonate meaningfully with audiences.
"The solo performance is an ever-more popular Broadway genre - understandable, given the increasing production costs of staging anything - that hangs on the virtuosity and charisma of its star."
As Smart explains in a monologue from the bathroom... Isabelle Scutley - 'Izzy' was a nickname she wanted, but never earned - has had a hard life.
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