A week before A Streetcar Named Desire was due to start previews at the Almeida Theatre in January, director Rebecca Frecknall lost her leading lady to injury. A week before the show’s transfer to the West End, she’s lost her leading man. Though fortunately this time it’s only temporary.
We meet during rehearsals. It’s two days after the Oscars and Paul Mescal, who is playing Stanley Kowalski in the production, has been in Los Angeles for the ceremony as a Best Actor nominee. “I texted him to say, ‘Have a great time,’ and I haven’t heard back,” she says, adding in mock fear, “I’m just hoping he comes back today!”
