The show went ahead as scheduled, even after a concerning incident.
NEW YORK — Carrie Coon, recognized for her role in “White Lotus,” shed light on why two previews of her and her husband’s Broadway production, “Bug,” were unexpectedly canceled just before the official opening.
The cancellations were attributed to “unforeseen circumstances” and an “illness.” During an appearance on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” this Thursday, Coon elaborated on the events that led to the disruptions.
“During a scene, I use fake blood and put it in my nose. The moment it touched my throat, I began coughing,” she recounted, while expressing regret over the performances not taking place. “It quickly became clear that my throat was constricting every 12 seconds.”
The Golden Globe-nominated actress mentioned that despite the issues, they managed to complete the scene and tried to mitigate the reaction with various over-the-counter medications.
“They brought me Afrin, Pepsid AC, and Advil, and I took them all. We hoped the symptoms would subside, but they persisted,” she noted.
The remainder of the show was canceled, as was a later performance that same day.
After seeing a doctor, getting a massage and “needles in my ear” from an acupuncturist, Coon told the crew to prepare for what she called a laryngeal spasm to continue opening night.
Luckily the spasming stopped an hour before showtime, allowing the show to go on as planned.
The play is the Broadway premiere of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater Company’s critically-acclaimed 2021 run about an “unexpected and intense romance between a lonely waitress (Carrie Coon) and a mysterious drifter (Namir Smallwood),” according to the Manhattan Theatre Club.
The club calls the show a “sexy psychological thriller.”
Prior to Broadway, the show debuted in 1996 in London and was later produced off-Broadway in 2004, according to PEOPLE. It was also turned into a movie in 2006 with Michael Shannon, Ashley Judd and Harry Connick Jr.
Letts is known for his work on “Ford v. Ferrari,” “Ladybird” and, most recently, “A House of Dynamite.” He and Coon married in 2013.
Deadline reported that the cast is expected to remain the same. It will feature Carrie Coon as Agnes White; Namir Smallwood as Peter Evans; Randall Arney as Dr. Sweet; Jennifer Engstrom as R.C.; and Steve Key as Jerry Goss.
Creative credits go to Tracy Letts as the playwright; David Cromer as the director; Takeshi Kata for Scenic Design; Sarah Laux for Costume Design; Heather Gilbert for Lighting Design; Josh Schmidt for Sound Design, J. Jared Janas for Hair & Makeup Design; Gigi Buffington for Dialect & Vocal Coach; Marcus Watson as the Intimacy Coordinator & Fight Director; JC Clementz for Casting; Zoë Adams as the Associate Director; Christine D. Freeburg as the Production Stage Manager; and Amanda Michaels as the Stage Manager.
