David Sedaris, the American humourist, comedian, author, and, more recently, BBC radio contributor, is currently touring the UK. Last night (6th July), he brought his latest thoughts on life to Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall. It was a highly entertaining evening, enlivened by his choice of attire – a sort of frock coat paired with white culottes.
He read several of his essays, taking us on a wonderfully meandering journey through subjects as diverse as fixing a leaking septic tank for an ageing Italian Contessa, having his corns shaved, and feeding crows and squirrels in both London and New York.
Others chronicled his travels, from Portland, where he was bitten by a dog owned by crack addicts, to the Dominican Republic and Egypt, where he found himself feeding stray cats and iguanas. In another essay, he had us in stitches after admitting he had been convinced that nipples grow back (they don’t).
Each piece highlighted both the absurdity of the human condition and Sedaris’s remarkable gift for observing it.
Partway through the evening, he introduced fellow author Andrew Sean Greer, who read an amusing extract from one of his own books.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, although it was often difficult to hear the audience’s questions in the vast auditorium as they were not given microphones.
It was a thoroughly agreeable couple of hours, rounded off with the customary book signing, where both authors had their pens at the ready.
Paul Schofield for Canal Street Online