David Sedaris-Entertaining Reading At Mondavi Center

2011-05-03T16:49:39Z

David Sedaris approached his appearance at the UC Davis Mondavi Center like a typical book-reading tour stop. Never mind he was in the 1,800-seat Jackson Hall versus a bookstore.

Still, Sedaris created the same sense of rapport with the sold-out house that he would in a smaller setting. Sedaris is good at this. He is a very popular contributor to National Public Radio, and a lot of his success on NPR can be attributed to how well he connects with his audience.

After a technical glitch — which was fixed by alerting an audience member with hearing loss that they could not both use their hearing aid and the theater listening device without blasting the rest of the audience and Sedaris with feedback — he started talking about what he had been up to lately.

First he shared his feelings about staying at a particular Courtyard Hotel, and especially a woman who went on and on while ordering a latte while he waited impatiently to order a coffee at the coffee stand. Sedaris can create a great deal of humor out of what most of us would like to say but are too polite to.

This soon turned to a description of his recent visit to Japan and mainland China with his husband, Hugh. Much of Sedaris’ description of China was about his experience of the Chinese attitude and behavior around bodily functions. It is a credit to Sedaris’ humor that he can have the audience on the edge of gagging, or worse, while also laughing hysterically.

“I hope this does not discourage you about visiting China. I would go back in an instant,” he said.

Another passage Sedaris read reflected strongly on his relationship with his father, as well as the state of race relations and public society growing up as the child of Yankees in Raleigh, N.C. The story revolved around the second-tier country club his family belonged to. The first tier was reserved for the founding families and very well-to-do of Raleigh. The second tier would allow anyone who could afford it except blacks, Jews, etc. The blacks just worked there and were called by their first names, even by the youngest child of the members.

The gist of the story was about young Sedaris being forced into the club’s children’s swim team and all the humiliation that came with it. The sad part was his father’s disappointment in him and admiration for another boy to the point of wishing that he was that boy’s father instead.

When he finally beat the other boy in a race, his father said, “Well, you only beat him once. It’s no big deal.”

All this sounds like it could be very sad or depressing, but Sedaris has a talent for telling these stories with a great deal of humor, albeit ironic humor. I believe there can be a lot of self-recognition for the audience laughing at these stories.

Sedaris read from the beginning of his new book, “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk,” whose title is a play on personal ads.

While on tour, Sedaris has been asking people in the book-signing line to tell him jokes, several of which he shared with the audience. The most suitable for SacPress: A guy answers the door. There is a snail on the front porch. The snail asks, “Can I interest you in some subscriptions?” The guy gets mad and kicks the snail off his porch. Two years later the doorbell rings. The man opens the door, and there is the snail on the porch. “WTF was that about?” asks the snail. Yes, it was much funnier when Sedaris told it.

An unusual thing that he did was promote another author’s book, but he said he does this on every book tour. He recommended Tobias Wolff’s “The Barracks Thief” (1984), set during the Vietnam War, which won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 1985. Sedaris said he does not fully understand what attracts him to the book but that he has read it at least 30 times. He included it with the stacks of his own books for purchase in the lobby.

After his presentation, Sedaris sat patiently signing books and chatting with fans who formed a long line that snaked across the Mondavi Center lobby.

In the Q&A after his reading and chatting, Sedaris gave a very telling answer to the question “What is it about writing you like?”

“Part of the the pleasure of writing is reading it out loud,” he said.

Lucky for us.

A Little naughty with your nice this holiday

2009-11-26T03:15:43Z

Treat yourself to a tasteful helping of holiday humor with the wickedly truthful "The Santaland Diaries."

Presented by Capital Stage in Old Sacramento, "Diaries" focuses on the crazy, "insane things" the holiday season tends to bring out in just about everyone - parents and hired elves alike.

"This is an adult take on how adults act around Christmas," said Peter Mohrmann, Capital Stage manager. "We've told every Christmas story over the last few years, we really wanted to show something different."

Unlike cheery Christmas classics such as "It's a Wonderful Life," "White Christmas" and "Christmas Carol," "Diaries" has more of a "witty, sardonic and unpredictable" aftertaste, according to the Capital Stage website.

Before David Sedaris became the best-selling author and Grammy-award nominated humorist he is today, he was an unemployed, struggling writer in New York. In a desperate attempt to make a few bucks, Sedaris was hired as "Crumpet the Elf" at the famous Santaland Macy's display in New York City. Similar to the movie "Bad Santa," Sendaris experiences the other side of rosy cheeks and cheery Christmas tunes — exasperated holiday shoppers.

"[Sendaris] did a reading of "The SantaLand Diaries" in Chicago in the early 90s on National Public Radio," Mohrmann said. "That is really what brought so much attention to him, it launched his career."

The show became so popular, it is shown across the country and has become a National Public Radio annual tradition, Mohrmann added.

Capital Stage artistic associate Janis Stevens will direct Foothill Theatre Company member Gary Alan Wright in this one-man play. Also, this one-hour play has been recommended for "Mature Elves" due to some graphic language.

In the spirit of giving, Mohrmann hopes the comical play will excite people to see more local performances in and around the Sacramento area.

"It is important to really see all the great theatre performances going on," he said. "That is my wish for the holiday season."

Capital Stage is located at 1000 Front St. in Old Sacramento. "The Santaland Diaries" will hold previews starting Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. Opening night is Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices vary depending on the date and time. The schedule can be viewed here.

Capital Stage is also running "Dinner & Show" tickets, which features a three-course meal on the Delta King. Tickets range from $49 to $56, not including taxes or gratuities.

Group rates and ticket discounts (students, seniors, preview days) can be viewed here.

Tickets can be purchased here.

"The Santaland Diaries" will conclude on Dec. 27 at 2 p.m.

Photo courtesy Capital Stage website.

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David Sedaris-Entertaining Reading At Mondavi Center

A Little naughty with your nice this holiday