Will ‘Christmas Carol’ Sing for a Bad-Luck Producer?

The big ad last Sunday for an upcoming production of “A Christmas Carol” at the Scottish Rite Auditorium mentioned that it will be narrated by Sir John Gielgud. It didn’t add that the narration will be on tape. Nor did it mention another credit equally as pertinent--the show will be produced and directed by Kevin Von Feldt.

Von Feldt is best known in local theatrical circles for two aborted productions. In 1989, he announced a “Christmas Carol” at the Wilshire Theatre with George C. Scott, which collapsed before it opened, when Scott withdrew because he hadn’t been paid.

Last year Von Feldt advertised a star-studded series of musicals to be performed at a North Hollywood theater; that effort also fell apart before it opened. In that case, Von Feldt pleaded no contest to charges of untrue and misleading advertising in Los Angeles Municipal Court. He was fined and placed on three years’ probation, the terms of which included making restitution to ticket buyers.

Those earlier events were “learning experiences,” said Von Feldt last week. “I’ve taken a more conservative approach this time . . . I have the money this year. I did not have enough before. I’ve chosen to involve myself with professionals who know how to get this on.”

Actors’ Equity confirmed that he has posted the required $56,000 bond with the union for “Carol”--something that he never managed to do for the earlier productions. And he has made the required deposit on the 1,728-seat Scottish Rite Auditorium, said the hall’s rental event coordinator.

Von Feldt, who said the budget for his production is $1.3 million, plans to open it with Nov. 24-25 performances in Omaha, where much of the money is being raised through promoter Clark Eide. Then, following a Nov. 27-Dec. 19 run in Los Angeles, the show is slated to move to the Beacon Theatre, at 74th and Broadway in New York, for a Dec. 22-28 run.

An ad in the New York Times last Sunday said Burgess Meredith would play Scrooge, and Von Feldt said Meredith “had agreed personally” to do the show. But Meredith’s agent, Jack Chutuk, said a deal was never completed and that talks were suspended after Chutuk heard about Von Feldt’s record. That occurred in time for Von Feldt to pull Meredith’s name from the Los Angeles ad but not from the New York Times, said the producer.

Although the terms of Von Feldt’s parole in the North Hollywood case forbid him from any further misleading advertising, it’s unclear if the Meredith incident would be a parole violation, said Deputy City Atty. Ellen Pais, who prosecuted the North Hollywood case. She said “we might have a hard time showing his intent” to mislead in the use of Meredith’s name in the one ad.

But she said her office would monitor Von Feldt’s current project, adding “If he follows the rules, great. If he’s going to pull the same shenanigans, we want to nip it in the bud.”

As of press time, Brian Keith was slated to play Scrooge, agreed Von Feldt and Keith’s agent Merritt Blake, who said the deal was “all but” completed and that Keith had begun rehearsals. Keith will work for union scale, plus a percentage of the gross, said Blake.

Meanwhile, Equity’s Western Regional Director George Ives expressed some concern about the use of the Gielgud tape, saying the union would have to approve the use of a tape instead of a live actor. Gielgud’s spokesmen could not be reached for comment.

The ticket price for “Carol” ranges from $15 to $35 in Los Angeles and $20 to $45 in New York, with half-price seats offered to children at some performances.

NOT QUITE PREVIEWS: When Mark Taper Forum officials decided to postpone the press opening of the two-part epic “Angels in America” from last Sunday to today, last week’s performances became previews, right?

Not necessarily. Normally, previews are those lower-priced performances that precede the arrival of the critics. While last week’s performances preceded critical appraisal, they weren’t lower-priced. The cost for tickets to the two-part marathons last Sunday and Saturday remained at $64 instead of dropping to $44--the price that was paid for preview packages prior to last Sunday.

“I feel certain that people will be getting their money’s worth, and it won’t be necessary to give refunds” (of the difference between the two price scales), said Taper boss Gordon Davidson when the postponement was announced.

The disparity between last week’s and earlier price scales didn’t apply to the weekday performances. The marathon two-parter on Wednesday was a special fight-AIDS benefit, with tickets priced at $50-$250. On Thursday and Friday, part one only--”Millennium Approaches”--was offered for $32; because no previous performances had been offered outside the two-part pricing structure, there was no lower preview price for just part one.