Side-Splitting Sedaris

I'd stand under your umbrella, ella, ella, a any day, Mr. Sedaris

photo credit: Hugh Hamrick

Have you ever noticed that the laughter and applause of large groups sounds exactly the same, no matter where you are? That thought hit me as I watched the packed audience in Governor's State University in University Park, IL laugh in giddy pleasure as David Sedaris read selections from his work. Standing behind a podium placed in the middle of a stage, Sedaris had the audience's full attention. Our ears were abuzz with his rich descriptions of seemingly unreal to the point that they have to be real characters. A sassy septuagenarian neighbor named Helen growls the words "twat" and "fuck" from a mouth set in a jaw Sedaris describes as looking "like a drawer that wasn't fully closed." She threatened to shove her "feet no smaller than hot dog buns" up Sedaris' ass if he fucked with her. Large hands are "king-sized mitts."

The mix of autobiography and self-deprecation is what draws many to Sedaris' humor. He colors the everyday occurrences of life with laughter, making it that much easier to see the absurdity in our own lives. We might not have to fetch dentures that took a 5 story fall for crotchety old women but equally bizarre moments pop up every now and then.

Laughter was in the air as the crowded auditorium waited for the next punchline. After reading selections from an upcoming New Yorker article and his book slated for release in June 2008, Sedaris read entries from his diary chronicling his international travels. A Q&A soon followed and Sedaris spoke about his sister (Gretchen, who now works with reptiles), his partner Hugh (who would never come out to hear him speak but WOULD enjoy the comforts of the hotel Sedaris is staying in), why he loves flight attendants (one explained the practice known as "crop dusting" -- farting up and down the airplane's aisles -- at a book signing), hotels (why do all the shitty ones start with Ameri-?) and an organization that trains monkeys to be "slaves for paraplegics" (Helping Hands, in case you're interested). Sedaris also recommend a book by Richard Yates called, Easter Parade. Sedaris read a particularly depressing passage that ended the jovial feeling of the past hour. Upon finishing, he urged the audience to give it a read, "and you know Christmas is around the corner!"

The audience burst into laughter and applause again as Sedaris walked off stage.

--Anthonia Akitunde