#SPOTTED: MERYL STREEP IN TORONTO AT KOERNER HALL FOR A READING OF “EVERYMAN”

Not many can say they’ve been within a penny’s throw of iconic Screen star Meryl Streep for almost three hours, so it is with sheer delight I can say I’ve now experienced the Queen herself in-person.  I can only describe the feeling as being incredibly-elevating.

Three-time Academy Award winner and 19-time nominee Streep mesmerized an intimate audience at Koerner Hall tonight, reading excerpts from Philip Roth‘s meditation on death, Everyman. Streep‘s reading was paired with the Takács Quartet in an experiment where they played four pieces according to member Edward Dusinberre, which were selected based on their thematic relevance.

Under circumstances of death, Everyman centers on the moments before its protagonist’s death and in a state of reflection are the stories of those surrounding him told, painting a portrait of himself in the process. We also witness death’s unpredictability with Streep embodying these characters fluidly and ever so seamlessly.

Despite being starstruck by her great presence for the first half of the night, eventually we were drawn-in, forgetting she was before us at times,  truly becoming these characters – a master’s class in storytelling. Streep truly is awe-inspiring and the Quartet evoked both mood and introspection among us.

Streep after promoting Oscar-contender Suffragette at the BFI London Film Festival recently, made her way to Toronto and we spied white roses and Tim Hortons being brought to her tonight.  She currently is at work on Stephen Frears’ Florence Foster Jenkins.

See more snaps below:

Spending Saturday night with Queen #MerylStreep at Koerner Hall at a reading of #Everyman. No big deal. #Meryl #NikonD3300 #wu1a #55200mm

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 17, 2015 at 7:58pm PDT

I can say I’ve truly lived, being in the presence of #MerylStreep for a few hours. Her ability to embody characters and storytell with seamless fluidity is a thing of awe. Will never forget tonight. #Meryl #Toronto #NikonD3300 #wu1a #55200mm A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 17, 2015 at 8:09pm PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)