In theory, “An Evening with David Sedaris” promised a standard literary reading, offering insights into the writer’s work and teasing what’s to come. However, the atmosphere in the sold-out National Concert Hall on July 8th was far from typical for an event of this kind. There was barely a moment when the audience was not doubled up in laughter at Sedaris’ deadpan, self-deprecating humour, right from when he ambled onto the stage, flamboyant in short blue culottes and a spectacularly frilly shirt, until several minutes after he had departed. It is very revealing that the impact that Sedaris had on his audience was more akin to that of a stand-up comedian than an author: it speaks strongly to the calibre of his writing, because Sedaris is not a performer by nature. At points, he appears unprepared, sifting through his notes and stumbling over his words, which admittedly adds to his eccentric charm. However, what he lacks in showmanship is irrelevant as his writing does all of the talking for him. The true brilliance of his work was highlighted by the mirthful reaction of the audience throughout.

The night centred around readings of his various essays, but there were brief periods when Sedaris went off-script, amiably chatting to the audience and throwing in personal comments. He balances the absurdity of Camus with the wit of Wodehouse, yet he is nothing like either of these authors, or any other author for that. Instead, his unique writing style is distinctly his own. He consistently exhibits a knack for finding comedy and significance in the most mundane of topics, with an ability to turn something that the majority of us would pass off as inconsequential into the most entertaining of anecdotes. His sharp examination of the oddities of human nature and experience are showcased perfectly in his chosen selection of droll and insightful readings.

A major aspect of Sedaris’ talent as a writer is his capacity to take something negative and transform it into something positive. His works are filled with the sad, the horrible and the tawdry, yet he always manages to create something truly hilarious from them. Rather than diminishing the seriousness of these topics, Sedaris seeks to bring comedic relief to every situation, no matter how unpleasant. This was exemplified in his first reading of the night, the essay “Now We Are Five”. This essay attempts to make sense of the suicide of his youngest sister, Tiffany, while he spends a beach holiday with his idiosyncratic family shortly after her death. It is, in parts, poignant and introspective as Sedaris and his family question what caused Tiffany to take her own life. When his father says that he does not think the suicide had anything to do with them, Sedaris wonders: “But how could it have not? Doesn’t the blood of every suicide splash back on our faces?” In the next paragraph, he has completely moved on from this thought as he visits a stand selling reptiles and dryly states: “I’d like to buy everything here just so I could kill it.” This contrast perfectly demonstrates the rapidly meandering, stream-of-consciousness style of the work, switching from dark to bizarre to amusing from one sentence to the next. The salacious humour and – at times – unflattering depiction of Tiffany that the essay presents could seem inappropriate, but Sedaris does it in such a refreshingly honest way that it does not seem distasteful. Embellished with brilliant, unexpected one-liners, this opening essay set the tone for the rest of the night’s readings.

Another memorable element of the event was a preview from a new book that Sedaris plans to release, a collection of extracts from his more recent diaries. He explained to the audience that he never writes about his emotions in his diaries, but simply about what he observes. His eye for detail is impressive in these entries, and again, encompasses both offbeat comedy and social commentary in classic Sedaris style. Some passages are simply jokes that he has been told. Others are conversations he has had or things he has overheard on the street. We attain a great sense of Sedaris’ character through these diaries, despite the fact that he generally focuses on extrinsic subjects. His foibles and quirks are revealed through the conversations he describes, allowing us to appreciate the inner workings of the Sedaris psyche. Ranging from receiving erratic phone-calls from Roseanne Barr to jocular exchanges with cashiers, there is plenty to enjoy and this collection will definitely be something to watch out for in the future.

 

“An Evening With David Sedaris” featured in the National Concert Hall on July 8, 2018.

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