This acerbic two-hander bristles with ideas about the commercial realities imperilling the arts. Author Stephen Kennedy believes passionately in his latest manuscript, but his meeting with indifferent agent William Beck is motivated as much by domestic pressure as creative pride. Thus, for all his accusations of philistinism, he’s as aware as his adversary of the tyranny of the bottom line, and just as prepared to sell his soul for lucre as acclaim.
Director Lesley Manning wisely avoids the heavily cinematic to reinforce the intensity. The bidding war and the trick coda smack of contrivance, but that’s partly the point, as life always reflects poor melodrama, not great art.