I See Me & Meryl Streep
Interview with Alexandra Keddie by Louise Cannon

After a successful sell-out run in Australia over several years,  the AACTA and AWG nominated writer/actor/comedian, Alexandra Keddie has brought her one woman show – I See Me & Meryl Streep to The Other Palace, London.
It is on until 4th May, suitable for 12+. Find out more details after the interview.

I See Me & Meryl Streep promises to be: “laugh a minute and more sequins, accents and single tears than you can poke and Oscar at”.

I had the privilege to interview her about the play, her passion for the actress, Meryl Streep, creating the play, performing in the UK and tapping into her youth and more…
Firstly, find out a bit from the synopsis and then we will get into the Q&A session. Below, you’ll also find more details about how you can book your ticket and dates.

Synopsis

I See Me and Meryl Streep is a journey through the life of Meryl Streep told through the eyes of her biggest fan, a misfit, also named Meryl, who finally gets to live out her fantasy of being loved and adored. 

At school, Meryl is made fun of and ridiculed but in this safe space she gets to shine and do all her favourite Streep impressions, from A Cry in the Dark to Out of Africa to The Devil Wears Prada to The Iron Lady and everything in between. With more props and costumes than Meryl Streep has Oscar nominations, Keddie whips through iconic impersonations and songs from Into the Woods, Ray Charles, Death Becomes Her, Mother Courage and of course Mamma Mia. 

So, let’s begin to find out more from Alexandra Keddie herself.

1.   What or who inspired you to act and how did you get started?

I’d been performing since I was really little but at 12 I essentially just decided that enormous success in big Hollywood movies was the logical path for a kid living in rural Queensland. I looked up acting classes and an agent in the phone book and asked mum if I could go along…   I’d always loved movies. I didn’t have the best time at school (shock horror, the comic performer was bullied) and movies were my escape. If I wasn’t watching them I was quoting them to my mum and trying to make her laugh. She’s always been the best audience, she continues to indulge me!

2.  Your play is called I See Me & Meryl Streep, what is it about the real actor Meryl Streep that you like most and what is it about her that made you create this play?

Well at 12 when I decided I wanted to be an actor I, very logically, went ‘well who is the best actress, I’ll be like her’. Meryl is known for being the most celebrated actress of this generation and is generally considered to be the ‘best actress’ – so I decided I’d be like her. I soon realised that she’d been given this title for a reason. She’s just exceptional. She’s able to take on so many different characters and truthfully and honestly embody them. She oozes charisma and is both unattainable and completely relatable at the same time. She made 12 year old Alex believe she could also be all those different characters and 33 year old Alex sit back in awe. 

3.  In the play, your character, also called, Meryl does impressions of Meryl Streep of some favourite films, The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia and many more. 
How did you prepare to do this so you’re convincing, since she’s so iconic?

Repetition is KEY! I have watched clips of her more times than you could imagine. It’s so much about finding the essence to her and threading that through the impressions. She has such a masterful way of using her voice so I did a lot of work in finding all that nuance. And she has her little physical quirks too that when you do them people instantly recognise HER. 

But voice is usually my way in with impressions. When I first did the show I created a playlist on my phone that I’d listen to as drove to work. I had a 1hr drive each way and I’d just repeat and mimic every word over and over. Those vocal patterns became like a song and they’ve been stuck in my head ever since. Some of the impressions are more silly than others though. Sometimes you’re getting an impression where I’m striving for that Oscar, and others you’re getting the SNL impression where I’m going for the laughs!

4.   I See Me & Meryl Streep had you tapping into your own youth. 
What was that like looking back and exposing part of your life into your play?

It’s changed a lot since I first did the show. When I started writing it, I was 22. I was so close to that age that I was trying to speak to and I was still embarrassed and ashamed of all my weird quirks. The show has grown and evolved so much over the decade and now in my 30s I really look back at my teenage self so much more fondly. There’s that phrase, ‘show your scars not your wounds’. I think at 22/23 I still had a lot of wounds from that time in my life, I’d been bullied and felt really insecure and small for a long time. I’ve healed and grown so much and now have a story to share that’s much more evolved. I think there’s something quite powerful about a 33 year old woman presenting a story as her 16 year old self in a really loving way, yet completely irreverent way.

5.  You’re performing at The Other Palace in London, once owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and then the late Bill Kenwright. 
What does that feel like to perform in a theatre of such prestige?

As an Australian it’s such a dream to be able to do any show in London, let alone one that I’ve written and one that I feel so proud of. The Other Palace is such a magnificent venue and it’s the perfect home for this show. I’m thrilled. Plus I’ve added a little Cats reference just for ALW.

6.  This London debut celebrates your 10^th anniversary of I See Me & Meryl Streep as you’ve previously taken it across Australia.
 What keeps the play fresh and interesting for you to perform it over so many years and have you found it’s evolved since the first performance?

Honestly, doing a one woman show is never dull. Stepping on stage each time is like stepping on a train and just trusting that you’ll get to the end. It’s such a mammoth thing to do that there’s no way it’d get dull. Plus every time I do it I always insist on rewriting at least some of it. When I first did the show I hadn’t written anything ever, now I’ve worked as a writer in many capacities and actually almost know what I’m doing. So the script has developed as I’ve become a better writer. And finding new moments and seeing how the audience responds is always really exciting. 

7.  What are you looking forward to most about performing in London?

Desperately hoping that Brits like my jokes!!!

8.  What made you decide to tour your play to the UK and will you be taking it to other theatres across the UK? (being up in Scotland, I often wonder what’s touring).

I moved to London a year ago and doing this show has always been a great way to introduce myself to the theatre scene. I’d love to do the show around the UK! Fingers crossed that gets to happen!

9.  Have you any other plans for either I See Me and Meryl Streep or any completely different acting plans in the pipework you can tell us about?

Funnily enough, once upon a time I intended for this show to be solely an acting piece, but it taught me to write and now that’s mostly what I do! I’ve got quite a few projects bubbling away. Watch this space! 

You can book your tickets via The Other Palace website here: The Other Palace