WESTON I had an offer through my agent. I was just thrilled, because I had heard such lovely things about Annie and so happy to be working with a woman director. And I hate that we even have to say that, still. But she was directing a play with three very rich women characters and a family dynamic and all that. I thought, yes, please.

Janeane and Lili, had you two met before doing this play?

GAROFALO You don’t remember this, but I met you backstage at “Three Sisters.” I think that’s the only time we’ve been in the same room. But I felt like I knew you because she’s on HBO every night with “The Conjuring.”

TAYLOR We’ve auditioned for similar roles. I don’t believe I’ve seen you, but I feel like I’ve been aware of you.

GAROFALO We’re a similar type, although you have more versatility. I would more likely be the chagrined, hardass, bitter woman. Whereas you have an earnestness.

TAYLOR You have the comedy thing, too — the funny bone.

GAROFALO I read an article about you, and you were quoted as saying you had to gain weight for “Dogfight,” and you couldn’t. I remember going, “What the [expletive]?!?” I was like, I will knock her out.

TAYLOR Believe me. You don’t want six meals a day. It’s intense. And my metabolism is fast.

GAROFALO See, this isn’t endearing. Don’t say that. [laughter]

Did you have the luxury of doing chemistry reads before you committed to your cast?

KAUFFMAN I don’t even understand them. If I’m going to try to read two people together, I don’t know where to look.

WESTON Chemistry reads only lead to unnatural sex acts. The lengths to which people will go, to say: “Yeah! Our chemistry is A-plus.”

GAROFALO Celia, do you have any stories?

WESTON I do, actually, and I’m censoring myself.

Have you been helping one another out with your preparations as performances get closer?

GAROFALO Lili taught me a technique for line memorization, based on a book you read on memory retention and neuroplasticity or something like that?

TAYLOR A smorgasbord of books.

GAROFALO It’s a repetition of threes. You say everything three times in a row, almost in a mechanical way. Just go through it like a robot. Every morning, before we come in, I go through the script and I do the drills. And then we’re standing here, and it’s gone. [laughter] And it makes me feel so many things.

TAYLOR It’s new feelings coming in, new impulses that you wouldn’t have by yourself. And all of a sudden there’s another human being giving you stuff. So it’s not a bad thing.