New York Times bestselling author and humorist David Sedaris held a reading this Monday at the Orpheum Theater. Sedaris is best known for his essay collection books such as “Me Talk Pretty One Day” and “Naked,” and is also acclaimed for his work in The New Yorker.
Sedaris’ readership is often older, but his appeal remains surprisingly durable, even as his tone occasionally leans toward the curmudgeonly.
Before he even opened his mouth, Sedaris got laughs with his outfit: a blazer and tie with a loose, floral kilt underneath. The ensemble immediately established the tone for that night, highlighting his offbeat, self-aware comedy.
Sedaris began the night by reading a satirical piece about recent attacks by immigration agents on protestors. The fictional story was graphically violent and absurdist, but got the biggest laughs of the night.
Sedaris also read from a mix of unpublished work and excerpts from his forthcoming book, “The Land and Its People.” His husband, Hugh, is a recurring character, often serving as a grounded counterpoint to Sedaris’ more neurotic and hyper-observant tendencies.
His sister, Amy Sedaris, an actress and comedian, also appeared frequently in stories. In an outlandish tale about the two going on vacation, Amy attempted to start a rumor that pop-rock singer-songwriter Sting was staying in the same resort.
Much of Sedaris’s work is his observations of the eccentrics that surround him. Notable characters included the pseudonymous John Paul, who bragged to Sedaris about his encounters with various B-list celebrities and was convinced Sedaris was a doctor, despite his insistence otherwise.
The most interesting parts of Sedaris’s stories were centered on the people he meets, elevating seemingly minor encounters into memorable moments. Sedaris takes it in stride, but joked that, on his deathbed, he would regret letting so many strangers take up his time.
One essay he read discussed his enjoyment of going on vacation to feed stray animals because he gets bored with feeding pigeons and squirrels in New York. Another detailed the embarrassment he feels when he falls in public.
While the premises are simple, Sedaris’s attention to detail and commitment to letting no absurdity go unnoticed resulted in just as many laughs as shocked gasps.
Sedaris also read through some of his diary entries, often jumping around out of order for thematic consistency, which gave the evening a loose but intentional structure.
He was also eager to showcase other writers, praising “Rejection,” a recent short story collection by Tony Tulathimutte.
The event ended with a short question-and-answer session with the audience.
An audience member asked him about his experiences at his alma mater, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Sedaris admitted he hadn’t painted in years, but his enjoyment of the arts had stayed with him through writing.
“You have to be on fire if you want to make it in the arts,” he said. “You have to be living for it.”
As much as Sedaris likes to grumble about inconveniences, it’s still clear that his fire for life persists, whether or not he would fully admit it.