Savage eastern playwright (5)
I believe the answer is:
wilde
'playwright' is the definition.
(Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900)
'savage eastern' is the wordplay.
'savage' becomes 'wild' (synonyms).
'eastern' becomes 'e'.
'wild'+'e'='WILDE'
(Other definitions for wilde that I've seen before include "He wrote The Ballad of Reading Gaol" , "Author of The Portrait of Dorian Gray" , "Oscar --, playwright, wit and author" , "Oscar or Kim?" , "Author of The Picture of Dorian Gray" .)