STAGE

British Equity Flap: The casting of a black American actor in the role of God in a new London musical is in doubt, but British Equity said that the controversy has no connection to the recent Jonathan Pryce-”Miss Saigon” casting incident. A spokeswoman said Equity had asked the producers of “The Children of Eden”--based on Old Testament stories--to prove they had tried to find a black British actor before approving their choice of American actor Ken Page. Yet the producers claim that Equity has not accepted Page to get revenge. “This is a completely different issue,” stressed the Equity spokeswoman, explaining that Pryce is an established star. “Ken Page does not have star status.” The show’s producer, William MacDonald, is waiting for a response from Equity; the show is supposed to open in London’s West End early next year.