Few authors have such a fine-toned blend of whimsical observational comedy and insight into the human condition the way David Sedaris does. During his visit to the University of Wyoming’s Arts & Science Auditorium on Friday, the author gave a lively performance of readings of his own and others’ writing, as well as a Q&A session and book signing.
The evening was electric as lines to enter the auditorium wrapped dozens long. Adults in Halloween costumes can make for an absurd atmosphere, which in this case, fit the scintillating and fun sarcasm Sedaris brings to life in his writing. From the Kenmore repair person with matching appliances to the middle-aged woman wearing an Animal costume (of Muppets fame) with an oversized head so large it had to be removed to not obstruct other attendees view of the stage, the crowd seemed in a farcical mood, ready for Sedaris’ playful approach to describing what tickles and tortures him in life.
Sedaris’ most interesting narrative talent is his ability to make something as mundane as translating “why” in Swedish or something as grave as the young age at which his mother died, and spin it for huge laughs.
In the same way a standup comic like Louis CK can make us laugh about his divorce or inability to stop eating cookies, Sedaris has every story he tells under his thumb. He dictates our interpretation of stories which—coming rom a source with less anecdotal wit—would seem immensely boring or desperately sad.
Not to be overshadowed, however, is his trademark word-smithing; a talent one cannot teach and only those with an intellect as sharp as Sedaris’ have the ability to create. As he described fish with bones in it as a “poached hairbrush” or a cross necklace a woman wore being “big enough to crucify a hamster,” a listener must wonder where he comes up with such outrageously poignant observations. When explaining a father on a plane instructing his child to look for angels in the clouds during the flight, Sedaris’ quip that he “shuddered so hard it caused turbulence” causes the crowd to uproar with laughter so bountiful, a plane with us on it surely would have crashed.
While many stories surround characters from a variety of walks in his life, neighbors, professors from college, friends from around the world, Sedaris’ best material comes from his observations of his own family and partner, Hugh. Though he conveys a clear attraction to Hugh and a sort of with-a-grain-of-salt love for his family, Sedaris dips and weaves though feelings many disillusioned creative outcasts have for those closest in their lives.
While recounting going home for the holidays with his family, he explains how Hugh was instructed by Sedaris to behave as if they were the “perfect couple,” his father walking away in the middle of conversations and how, when the going is too rough, he retires to the garage where he gets on Google and wonders “what Kurt Russell is up to.”
As anyone in a relationship can attest to, he explained how a question of a missing sock can turn into a “fight about everything” with Hugh, where Sedaris is baffled by his lover’s assertion he “hasn’t been attracted to him since 2002.”
If there is any time Sedaris falters from a perfectly spoken, cohesive barrage of sharp, concise language, it is in his improvised commentaries. Sometimes rambling and overly verbose, the Q&A was nonetheless still entertaining because it was exclusive to this one evening. Speaking on topics ranging from the importance of voting and his journey to quitting his heavy smoking habit, Sedaris still weaved in hilarity-especially in the concluding of his responses.
His talents cannot be written off to being a glorified standup comic for NPR listeners, however. Inserted carefully and thoughtfully throughout are solemn insights about how we are all getting older and trying to figure out how we make the transitions into stages of our lives we have no ability to understand. It’s this “damn middle-age things I have to get through” he says, and explains the only thing he can do is stay busy, as even he is still “constantly trying to decide how to say things.”
Sedaris is a master of his craft not just because of his oratory skills, clever word choice or playful observations, but he is genius in his ability to tie the dichotomy of the miserable side of life to humor.
No matter how frustrating or depressing the issue, Sedaris proves we can find a way to laugh at ourselves and at the absurdity of the modern condition.
