MERYL CATES: The full cast for Regrets was announced before previews. How long have you been working with each other?
ALEXIS BLEDEL: I think its been almost about a month now. Nearly a month—I think we had three weeks of rehearsals and we started previews about a week and a half ago.
CATES: Yeah, so three weeks of rehearsals—that’s a pretty quick turn-around.
BLEDEL: It was quick but we’ve had a lot of previews, which is good. So we’ve been having rehearsals before the previews.
CATES: This was one of those plays where you’re really pulling back the layers. Here’s this retreat in Nevada where no one wants to leave. How was it working with Matt Charman? Was he very hands-on in getting his vision across?
BLEDEL: Incredible, yes. He’s been here with us most of the process. It’s just incredible, he’s such an amazing writer, and every change he makes just really seems to fit well, and he’s really open to trying different things. He’s really trusted us, as far as what our instincts are for the characters and what feels right. He and Carolyn Cantor, the director, work really well together. They’re really on the same page; they just want to make the best play they can.
CATES: Immediately, the audience is struck by the set. It really reflects those aspects of isolation, and it’s so ornate. As an actor, a great set like that must really put you in the play, right?
BLEDEL: Yes, absolutely, and it’s very detailed and realistic as well. I mean, the cabins are filled with these items that are mostly older, they’re vintage pieces of furniture and linens, and down to the tiniest details—the sinks in the bathrooms work, and you can hear that when somebody runs water. There are all these sounds, the sound of the fire crackling and the crickets, all these tiny things that you don’t even notice at first. Once we got on stage, we just couldn’t believe it! You sit in one of these cabins and you feel like you’re really there.
Alexis Bledel and Ansel Elgort perform in ‘Regrets.
Alexis attended the premiere of Mad Men in New York City.
