Baltimore theatergoers who bought tickets to special performances of "A Christmas Carol" are crying humbug -- because the show is as invisible as the ghost of Christmas past.
An all-star cast was to have performed the Christmas classic this month at the Homewood campus of the Johns Hopkins University, but the producer never paid for the auditorium -- prompting the university to cancel the show and leaving ticket buyers struggling to get their money back.
Authorities say that it's not the first time that the California-based producer, Kevin Von Feldt, has advertised an elaborate production of "A Christmas Carol" only to back out because of financial difficulties.
Similar productions have fallen through in Kansas City, Mo., Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston.
"I'm just so disappointed because my Mom and I were really looking forward to this. She's going to be 70 this year and this was a special event for us," said D. Lynn O'Neil, who lives in Baltimore and paid $52.50 for the two tickets.
Ms. O'Neil, like dozens and perhaps hundreds of others who bought tickets for the scheduled performance at Shriver Hall, is trying to work with her credit card company to get back the cost of the tickets.
"I'm really wondering if I'm going to get my money back. I'm looking at this as a scam," Ms. O'Neil said.
"I just can't believe it. All these stars were supposed to be in this, and I supposedly had seats four rows from the stage."
Mr. Von Feldt, who claimed in recent media interviews that he wrote his adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic while serving eight months in the Los Angeles County Jail, couldn't be reached last night.
As has been the case in virtually every city where Mr. Von Feldt has tried to put on a production of "A Christmas Carol," no one is quite sure what to make of the situation.
"We've left messages on his machine and haven't heard back," said Dennis O'Shea, a Hopkins spokesman.
"All we know is he was to pay $7,800 for the hall, and the only payment we received was a $100 deposit in late October."
Mr. Von Feldt had put advertisements in The Sunday Sun, saying that the Baltimore production was to be performed Dec. 12, 13 and 14. Among the actors advertised were Patrick McGoohan, and Michael Tucker of the television series "L.A. Law," with Sir John Gielgud as the narrator.
Seats were advertised for $35 each, with a half-price discount available for senior citizens.
"It looked questionable to me, with all those stars coming here. So I called the 800 number, and they said, 'Yes, they will be here,' " said Anna Ray Suter, who bought five tickets at the senior citizen rate.
"I guess I'd better get on the phone about this," Ms. Suter said. "My tickets are on my Visa. I hope I can get my money back."
In Kansas City, Mr. Von Feldt ran into a similar problem with the theater he booked for that leg of the performance's tour. The Midland Theater canceled the show after he didn't pay a deposit.
Mr. Von Feldt's career as a producer has been marred by financial problems, minor bouts with the law and difficulties signing contracts with the actors he claims are starring in his shows.
In 1991, he pleaded no contest in Los Angeles Municipal Court to charges of misleading advertising stemming from a proposed series of plays and musicals.
Among those plays was Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman," which was to have starred Don Rickles -- but prosecutors said Mr. Von Feldt used the actor's name in his ads without authorization.
His production of "A Christmas Carol," which he has been trying to put on since 1989 in numerous cities, finally got off the ground this year in Pasadena, Calif. The production, starring Brian Keith and Shirley Jones, was performed Thanksgiving week.
The 800 number Mr. Von Feldt listed on his Baltimore advertisement has a recorded message.
Last night, the only information it provided was how to buy tickets for his latest production of "A Christmas Carol" -- this time, in Birmingham, Mich.