'A Christmas Carol': Scrooges at play?

Some fans excited by the promise of seeing Jane Seymour and Gene Wilder in “A Christmas Carol” at the Kodak Theatre are crying foul after learning about a last-minute cast change.

Seymour came down with “a severe bronchial infection” that she felt would hinder her performance, and Wilder, who was scheduled to appear in the form of a hologram, was removed from the show “because the producers decided that it would not be effective in the production.”

The unexpected cast change made the holiday favorite less appealing to at least one customer who hoped for a refund -- and whose experience might be a warning to others.

Excited by the promise of seeing Seymour and Wilder, retired attorney Paula Reddish Zinneman purchased six tickets for her family. She shelled out $498 for herself, two daughters, one son-in-law and two grandchildren. Her Christmas dream was shattered not only by the cast change, she said, but also by the revelation that Wilder would not be appearing in person -- something left out of the Kodak Theatre’s advertisements.

“That was the only reason I wanted to go, and that reason is gone,” she said. “I got better things to do.”

A spokesman for the Kodak said that theater's ads and website contain a special disclaimer warning ticket buyers that the cast is subject to change. Combine that with a "no refund" policy and audience members are stuck seeing a reworked version of what was originally expected.

And apparently, that's not the only problem.

According to a Times staffer who was there, the preview show Monday was a bumpy affair, with a series of glitches that had the audience laughing at the wrong times. Curtains didn’t rise on cue. A prerecorded narration drowned out an exchange by stars Christopher Lloyd (as Scrooge) and John Goodman (as the Ghost of Christmas Present). Lloyd got tangled in his nightshirt costume while trying to change wardrobe. Off in the corner, a conspicuous stagehand tried to help the star and his flummoxed costar ad-lib a line about the ghosts of Christmas messing with his clothes.

Perhaps overcome by holiday goodwill, however, the crowd reportedly laughed along with the mishaps and cheered loudly for the familiar faces of Goodman and Lloyd.

-- Alicia Lozano

Photo: Christopher Lloyd as Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol." Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Lynn]

I am also trying to get my money back. I bought the higest price tickets to see Jane Seymour. I paid $95 a seat and about a week before the show the same seat was selling for $79. I believe that indicates these two stars were not perfoming then and yet they wouldn't even refund the extra money we were charged. On Broadway if a featured star does not perfom you receive your money back if you request. Why should LA be different? I definitly call foul. Kodak obviously knew and never took these actors names of their advertising

[Ian]

I was there as well opening night and was quite disappointed. I felt sorry for Christopher Lloyd who had to deal with such shoddy technical work. For a production staged at the Kodak Theatre and with such great cost, I expected more from all involved.

I don't know if the IATSE crew were off last night (meaning not working), or if they had no time to practice beforehand. Either way, it left a bitter impression of professional theater in LA that me and my guests won't soon forget.

I have seen more coordinated and professional-looking productions at the high school and college levels throughout the years.

I hope after Monday's performance, Christopher Lloyd made sure some, if not all, of the crew were fired and replaced. He, and the audience deserved better.

[Marianne]

Jill Gold should never work in this town again.

[Ilyena]

One does wonder, Ian, how the firing and replacing of the entire crew would solve the issue if, as you suggested and as it turns out actually IS the case, the cause of the problem was that they crew was not given enough time to practice?

[Neil]

Wow. That was the worst show I have ever been to in my entire life. I can not believe how bad and sound, lights, stage crew, and costume were! This was awful. Everyone should get their money back. Everyone should be fired after this is over. The only good thing was the actors acting. I am so angry. I'm seriously going to demand my money back and I recommend anyone that was there do the same. Someone should have caught this before it happened. I bet Seymore and Wilder got out because they KNEW it was going to be horrible! Man, I tell you, I forced myself to stay in my seat. I really had the urge to walk out or walk on stage and stop the show from ruining my Christmas.

[Mary Ann]

What the Kodak theater fails to admit is that their so called 'disclaimer' about the cast being subject to change went up less than a WEEK before opening night. The Kodak was aware of Seymour's status by December 5th and yet continued to use her name in its promotion and only at the last minute posted the notice of possible cast change. Talk about foul!

[mary ann]

Sorry, that was a typo, II meant the theater was aware by Dec 15th of Seymour's status not the 5th. The main thing is that disclaimer was added at the last minute it was not there when people bought their tickets.

[Blair]

I, too, was stunned by the endless problems evident onstage at Monday night's show. It seems so clear that there had been no dress rehearsal, when they would have caught and fixed the struggles with the clothing, with Scrooge's purse, his shoes, the top hats, the falling bunches of grapes, etc. It's all well and good to call out the stage manager, but I'm thinking that the director, most of whose credits are in film and TV, should be answering questions instead.

None of this should detract from the performances of the actors, who did a valiant and credible job in spite of everything. Kudos to all of them, especially Christopher Lloyd.

[Sarah]

I was going to audition for this play but then I googled the directors/producers name. After reading about him and his productions of Christmas Carol, I decided against it. I had a feeling it would be a mess and I am suprised that these stars, the Kodak, and Actors Equity went into business with this man. I didn't audition and after seeing opening night (for free) I am SO glad.

[Janelle]

My boyfriend and I went to see this play, and with a combined thirty-one years of experience in the theatre, in technical and performance fields, this was the worst production we have EVER seen, and that includes community and children's theatre. The stars that DID show up didn't even have their lines memorized. Christopher Lloyd bumbled his way through the entire performance. The fact that Gene Wilder didn't even make a holographic appearance is a complete breach of contract with the paying audience.

This production was a complete and miserable failure. Absolutely nothing went off right and I was embarrassed to be watching the performance. Never mind getting our money back, I wish I could get two hours of my life back.

[Rob Braid]

We went on New Year's eve, Christopher Lloyd was absolutely fantastic.
We really enjoyed it. They must have had the technical glitches sorted out.
Jon Goodman was really good too.

[Krystle Young]

Honestly, what are you all complaining about? I thought it was really great. Christopher Lloyd was great. John Goodman on the other hand gave a boring performance. Yes, so what Jane Seymour couldn't show up and OH no, Gene Wilder didn't make a fake appearance. And I was there that night when the audience applauded for John Goodman and Christopher Lloyd's appearance and when Scrooge joked about the Christmas spirits messing with his clothes. It was funny. You all need to shut up.

[Linda]

Right, "Sarah," I am sure your resume looks better for your NOT having been in a play with Christopher Lloyd, Jane Leeves and John Goodman. Get real, Sweetheart. It no doubt would have bummed you even more to be rejected from the auditions with no call back. It was a wonderful evening. For those who cannot enjoy a transcendent performance by Mr. Lloyd and some true comedy from Mr. Goodman, I say lighten up. Most of us will not have many chances to see Christopher Lloyd on stage again, and he alone was worth the price of admission. If you can't handle human error, don't risk a stage performance. I got discounted tickets, took my kids, and we all had a wonderful time. I would do it again in a heartbeat! Went to see Lloyd and Goodman, discovered Cutler as well, brilliant! There may have been production flaws, but live theater is all about the performances. Even big stars welcome a chance to perform before a live audience to hone their craft and get back in touch with the audience in a way they cannot on film or tape. Luckily for us, because it was a privilege to witness these fine actors doing what they do best.