A lackluster script shortchanges Bryan Batt & company in ‘Pay the Writer’
Mad Men), Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives), and Ron Canada (The West Wing) face insurmountable challenges in Pay the Writer, a new Off-Broadway play by New York Times bestselling author Tawni O’Dell (Back Roads).
Cyrus Holt (Ron Canada) is dying. While the clock ticks, he tries to crank out one last novel. His long-time agent turned best friend, Bruston Fischer (Bryan Batt), fights to score a fair book deal for him and work with his pretentious French translator.
Meanwhile, the critically acclaimed writer tries to right the wrongs of past relationships with his ex-wife (Marcia Cross) and children.American novelist O’Dell may boast impressive credits, including membership in Oprah Winfrey‘s book club and a self-written screen adaption for her novel Back Roads (co-starring Magic Mike’s Alex Pettyfer), but her second venture at playwriting is unlikely to be lavished with high praise.One can see the mechanics employed here, and it’s not for lack of trying and sincerity that Pay the Writer falls short.
Yet human dynamics are tricky. Not every past transgression and sin is resolved, even in matters of life and death. “I don’t have the energy to deal with her nonsense.
