Review:  I See Me & Meryl Streep, The Other Palace

I See Me & Meryl Streepis a campy tribute to Meryl Streep’s long and varied career by one teenager named Meryl, her biggest fan. To prepare for her GCSE Drama exam, she has taken it upon herself to present bits of acting and songs from different movies and shows starring Meryl Streep, vaguely concealing the loneliness and insecurity at the root of her obsession.

There is something refreshing about seeing teenage obsession displayed with so much heart and understanding, laughing with it rather than at it. The level of obsession reached by Meryl the teenager is abundantly displayed from the stage to the studio’s entrance, as Meryl Streep’s face is everywhere. She knows everything there is to know about the actress, mentioning movies, shows, and interviews that not everyone will have heard of, and is certain that their lives are meant to parallel one another in every possible way. These moments of fanaticism are hilarious, played intentionally for laughs. It is in the moments in which Meryl talks about herself, about her own life and struggles to connect with kids her age, that the audience comes to understand and sympathize with Meryl. Those quieter moments are few and short, cut by more fanaticism and a wonderful rendition of “The Winner Takes It All”, but they stand out wonderfully.

Alexandra Keddie, writer and producer of the play, stars as Meryl the teenager. Her performance is impeccable as both a teenager and Meryl Streep impersonator. Her voice and accent changes noticeably between the two, with the Meryl Streep impersonation bearing an uncanny similarity to the real actress. Keddie even manages to replicate mannerisms belonging to Streep and the characters she has played. The impersonation is a testament to a careful study of and admiration for Meryl Streep, which has paid off in the funniest of manners. I do have to highlight the other side of Keddie’s performance, that of Meryl the teenager. There is a certain manic energy to the moments of fanaticism that recall actual teenagers, as well as real moments of vulnerability and insecurity that most teenage girls have gone through. Meryl the teenager was a believable teenage girl, and that is all on Keddie’s writing and performance.

Even if the only Meryl Streep movie you’ve seen is Mamma Mia, and even if your teenage years are far behind, this play is guaranteed to make you laugh, feel, and sing.

Writer & Producer: Alexandra Keddie
Co-Producer: Toby Francis
Producer: Clark James
Director: Monique Salle

I See Me & Meryl Streep runs at The Other Palace Studio until Sunday 4 May