Jodie Comer Stops Her Broadway Show, Citing Difficulty Breathing Due to NYC’s Air Quality; Other Shows Also Affected

Caitlin Huston
·3 min read
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Jodie Comer stopped performing in the matinee of one-woman show Prima Facie on Wednesday after she reported having difficulty breathing. It was one of several examples of shows affected by the smokey haze that overtook New York City as a result of wildfires in Canada.

Elsewhere, Hamilton canceled its Wednesday night performance and other events were canceled or delayed because of the conditions.

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Comer, the only person onstage throughout the 100-minute show, left the stage during the matinee and was later set to be replaced by the understudy.

“Today’s matinee of Prima Facie was halted approximately 10 minutes into the performance after Jodie Comer had difficulty breathing due to the poor air quality in New York City because of smoke from the Canadian wildfires. The performance was set to start again from the top with understudy Dani Arlington going on for Ms. Comer in the role of Tessa,” a spokesperson for the production told The Hollywood Reporter.

Comer returned for the Wednesday evening performance.

The decline in air quality is caused by wildfire smoke from Canada drifting down to the East Coast of the U.S. The National Weather Service, as well as government officials for New York City and other local areas, has urged residents to stay indoors as much as possible and to reduce strenuous outdoor activities (and walking in a picket line for hours would qualify). The WGA East canceled all picket lines due to the hazardous air blanketing the New York City metro area, “out of an abundance of caution.”

Hamilton on Broadway canceled its Wednesday evening performance, saying that “the hazardous air quality in New York City has made it impossible for a number of our artists to perform this evening.” Performances were scheduled to resume Thursday. Performances of Camelot at the Lincoln Center were also canceled Wednesday.

The Public Theater canceled a planned rehearsal and dress rehearsal of the Shakespeare in the Park production of Hamlet Wednesday, in addition to the first two performances on Thursday and Friday. The performances, which take place in the open-air theater in Central Park, were canceled “due to the ongoing issues of air quality and the added effect it is having on finalizing the production at The Delacorte Theater,” a spokesperson said.

The production said it will continue monitoring the air quality and following guidance from the city and the Parks Department as it looks toward future performances.

Overall, the Broadway League said a few Broadway shows were being canceled Wednesday evening, but that, “Broadway remains open this evening and most shows are set to perform.”

Actors’ Equity, the union for actors and stage managers, said Wednesday evening that it is “currently advising employers on HVAC strategies to mitigate the effects” of the smoke. The union is also telling members who have safety concerns about the air to contact their business reps.

Off-Broadway, the Vineyard Theatre canceled Wednesday night’s performance of This Land Was Made, saying it was “in the interest of prioritizing the health and safety of our audience members, performers, and staff.”

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