JEREMY PIVEN is on the hook. He goes before the grievance committee of Actors’ Equity tomorrow to defend his much-snickered-at claim that high levels of mercury in his bloodstream, brought on by a passion for sushi, forced him to abandon the Broadway revival of David Mamet’s “Speed-the-Plow.”
Piven is expected to attend the hearing, which will be held at Equity headquarters on West 46th Street, so that he can make his case in person, sources told The Post.
“It’s my understanding that he’ll be there – unless he has too much sushi on the plane from LA,” joked a person involved in the proceedings.
The producers of “Speed-the-Plow” brought Piven up on charges with Equity, arguing that his abrupt departure in December from the $3.5 million production wreaked havoc with their recoupment schedule.
Piven will appear before a committee of five actors and five producers. He is expected to brandish the results of a blood test given to him by his doctor, and will likely give a blow-by-blow account of his illness during the show.
Last month, Piven agreed to a blood test administered by a doctor hired by the producers of “Speed-the-Plow.”
The results of that test have not been revealed, but the producers are expected to allege that long before he claimed to be ill, Piven was agitating to leave the show.
He called several prominent actors on his own and begged them to replace him, sources said. He was also overheard telling people backstage that he was “bored out of his mind” in the show.
The producers also have a record of where Piven’s car and driver took him after performances, sources say.
Although Piven claimed he was so ill that he often went home after the show, sources say the log shows that he spent many nights out on the town.
The producers will also point out that in the past, many ailing stars have taken a leave of absence from a show but have returned when they felt better.
“Unless it’s a life-or-death situation, you usually find a temporary replacement and then negotiate a return,” said a producer not involved with “Speed-the-Plow.”
Piven informed the producers he was sick, then jumped on a plane to Los Angeles and announced he was not returning to the show.
“There was no discussion, no negotiation – he was just gone,” said a source.
If the grievance committee rules against Piven, it can force him to settle financially with the producers. If he refuses to abide by the committee’s decision, he can be expelled from the union – and the producers are free to go after him in civil court.
Although there are five actors on the committee, theater sources say Piven should not count on their support.
“I don’t think many theater actors are in favor of what he’s doing,” a veteran producer said. “They take jobs on Broadway very seriously, and he’s a Hollywood actor, behaving like one.”
Another top producer not involved with “Speed-the-Plow” pointed out that Equity has a responsibility to Piven’s co-stars, Raul Esparza and Elisabeth Moss, who were said to be upset with his behavior.
“What is the union telling a professional like Esparza, if they protect Jeremy Piven?” the producer said.
Reps for Piven could not be reached in time for comment.