Writer brings down house with humor
The Daily Pennsylvanian
March 06, 2001
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Writing seminars are rarely something to joke about, but author and playwright David Sedaris' visit to the Kelly Writers House yesterday proved to be hilarious.
Sedaris spent the day with professors and students as part of the Writers House Fellows Program. The program, a seminar taught by English Professor and Writers House Director Al Filreis, brings well-known authors to interact with students.
"A few of us wet our pants," Filreis said in his introduction of Sedaris' reading later in the day. "It's not so often that people in an Ivy League university can say they wet their pants in an English seminar, but we did."
For nearly two hours Sedaris entertained a crowded Kelly Writer's House -- reading excerpts from his recent book Me Talk Pretty One Day, articles from Esquire magazine and bits from his personal journal.
The journal, as well as the stories, gave witty insight into Sedaris' life and detachment from mainstream society.
"He is the consummate outsider," said Tim Donza, a College junior and student in the Fellows seminar. "It is as if he were an alien sent to Earth to learn our ways."
Sedaris said he has been keeping a journal since he was a teenager, adding that he began his career by reading pieces from his memoirs at comedy clubs in Chicago, where he was discovered and asked to speak on National Public Radio.
Since then, Sedaris has written four books and several plays, while still airing regularly on NPR.
Sedaris' latest book was published late last year. It is a collection of stories and essays taken from his everyday life.
The book has been lauded by critics and scholars alike.
"It has one of the most stunningly written endings I have ever witnessed," Filreis said.
The two-hour talk encompassed several readings on topics from American tourists in Paris to homosexuality in England.
Audience members were curious about Sedaris' tendency to exaggerate in his books and stories, especially those stories concerning his family and his childhood.
During a question and answer period, one audience member tried to delicately broach the subject.
"The question was, 'How much do I lie?"' Sedaris said.
Sedaris answered that he rarely lies but does occasionally embellish for the sake of the story.
"Some people lead very interesting lives," Sedaris said, but "my life is not inherently dramatic."
Sedaris attracted a diverse crowd of about 120 undergraduates, graduate students and members of the Philadelphia writers community. With a waiting list to get into the talk, all present were huge Sedaris fans.
"I thought it was absolutely amazing," said Rebecca Sills, a College freshman. "He articulated all his ideas and humor so well. He was even more amazing in person."