What appeared to be the interior of a contemporary white kitchen projected on a mega-screen was actually the stage design for “In Conversation with Amy Sedaris” live performance event, from the “On Art and Politics” series hosted by the San Franciscan Herbst Theater on February 12, 2008.
I arrived at the theater earlier enough to find a pleasant surprise: an upgrade from my F-9 seat to what I consider the perfect spot in the house, a shagadelic C-2, right across from my inspirational “laughing muse.”
Herbst Theater Map
The live performance was an energetic and hilarious interview with Amy Sedaris about life in general and her newest book:
‘I Like You: hospitality under the influence’, a must if you wish to appreciate the simple pleasures of sharing the real you with your real friends at your real home while laughing your head off at the many googly-eyes food, recipes, and crafts designed by Ms. Sedaris.
The book is a real treasure and you will read it over and over again. So stop what you are doing, go out in this beautiful stormy wether, buy it, light up your fireplace, get your cat or bunny or sex slave on your lap and start reading. If you are so lazy and lethargic your order is just a click away and it’s here below:
(No offense Martha Stewart, but the few minutes I bared to watch your show, I feel trapped in a multi-mega-zillion dollar set, rather than a human kitchen, with pets, screaming/crawling babies with dirty diapers, telephones ringing, smoke coming out of the oven, husbands yelling: “Where’s my food?” scenario reflecting the vast majority of American families. Not that this is by any means the scenario of the book or of Amy’s life or mine - Thank God ! - However, what I’m trying to say is that I’d rather see the “Chicken Snatchatore” prepared by Amy in her colorful and live New York apartment kitchen than your “Lemon-Roasted Chicken with Arugola Salad and Dilled Orzo”... You see... you’ve already lost me at... lemon.)
Amy Sedaris and Enza Sebastiani
Moving on... but who’s Amy to begin with?
I have no clue. Just taking a wild guess here, driven by her unlimited talent as an artist and a selfless human being.
If you haven't ever heard about Amy Sedaris, just remember two words...or perhaps a little north of 2: Exit 57, the hilarious TV Show aired in the mid 90's, written by co-star and best friend Paul Dinello, also co-starred by Stephen Colbert (those three were indeed the Magic Trio and they still are!), Wigfield's stellar cast Mae Ella Padgett, Dottie Fore and Cinnamon; Strangers with Candy unforgettable Jerri Blank, or even better, moving away from the past, "Quill Award 2007" that she won for her book "I Like You", but that we already knew; Barb in "Snow Angels" (2008) “a glimpse in time of several relationships, some simmering and ready to boil (imdb)”, "Dedication" and "Romance & Cigarettes”, both on DVD, btw, and a universe of pink, yellow, red, green. blue, caramelized, stellar stories from the most attractive and active lady in the universe... And yet, I left out approximately 95% of who she really is... My favorite bio is on the jerriblank.com site, if you wish to inform yourself.
More... or less... about the live performance...
Dang! I am so mad with myself... Age is really a stinky factor for various reasons: 1. Memory fails, along with body parts that once used to make people turn their heads 360 degrees... like those luscious pair of lungs (or what’s on top of them) now simply unwatchable at naked eyes or via x-rays ‘cause they could increase the lack of memory and confuse you about what you are looking at: a pair of barbecued black mushrooms or something that once allowed you to breath, run and enjoy life? Huh?
You see? I’ve already forgotten why I am mad with myself, but I am sure it has to do with the fact that I didn’t take enough notes during the Amy Sedaris live performance that night - I was too busy laughing to tears every second.
Amy was wearing a Snow White striking handmade blue/white dress with a bunch of red mushrooms embroidered on the skirt. She said that the dress was done by a designer friend of hers. DON’T ask me names! My name memory doesn’t exists. If you wish leave a comment with her name. Thanks.
I can barely remember jokes, questions, answers... I feel terrible, but as a newly member of the “Afraid Nots” I’ll keep on typing.
The interviewer, a San Franciscan writer and pisces who’s name is lost in the forgotten land of my vanishing memories (please forgive me, I am a pisces too and often forget how to spell my own name.) prepared for Amy and for himself a delicious Martini just to set the right mood. I wish I had one of those now. I bet names would come back right away!
But I do recall that Amy compared her pet rabbit Dusty to a goat: “He loves to chew on anything...”
Amy Sedaris and Dusty
I remember her saying that she belongs to 4 different clubs, including the “The Afraid Nots” of course...
Amy was also raving about a movie, “There Will Be Blood” , although she is not fond of the movie making process - too slow for her pace, I guess. “TV is much better, things move much faster...”
The imaginary boyfriend Ricky was also a blast. The way she met him one day, 17 years ago, when she was shopping with her brother David and saw a Christmas Tree decoration that said “Ricky”... But again, I wouldn’t swear that’s what she said, ‘cause during all that part I was literally peeing in my pants.
Do you really have to remember all the facts and words that people say when writing a review or an article about those people? Thank God I’m just writing a blog.
Yet, my visual memory allowed me to recall everything about Amy’s humble and selfless connection with her interviewer and with her audience, her natural and irresistible humor, her puzzled face when I believe I threw her off by asking a silly question assuming what she does while cooking: “What do you usually sing, while cooking and what’s your absolute favorite food?” At my two questions Amy was still looking for me in the audience as the sound from the microphone seriously threw her off (she was looking at the opposite side of the theater, so she started to joke around the ghosts or voices in her head...)
Finally we connected and while looking straight into my eyes she said “I don’t sing while I am cooking. I like it dead quiet! But I do listen to music... My favorite food? If I cook for myself I like it very plain... if I have guests I’ll use spices, like salt, pepper, you know...” LOL
It’s been a revelation - at least for me - to see for the first time live the “Strangers with Candy” anti heroine “Jerri Antonia Blank”, the writer, comedian, actress who causes a spontaneous combustion every time she opens her mouth and says pretty much anything. From her favorite newspaper, the “Yesterday Newspaper” that she uses as litter box for her adorably furry bunny and buddy Dusty; to who’s gonna be our next president, “I guess Carter...” she says, showing lack of interest for the entire political scene. Can you blame her?
Jerri Blank
What struck me about Amy is her infectious joie de vivre that manifests itself in her hilariously creative sphere, her desire to “put up shows,”rather than typing, researching and writing them. And that goes for her book too, that comes across as a beautifully composed parody of the American 50’s life style... And yet, my definition doesn’t even cut a 3% of what the book contains...
Amy doesn’t care about the process. She loves the final product and to maintain - as fresh as possible - her spontaneous gift of improvising on and off stage. This is at least how I perceived her.
Lowering the curtains... or making a skirt out of it?
The following is a series of composites I’ve created in Photoshop for you Amy, based on what I remember seeing on stage that night. Again, enjoy them for what they are, as I believe the strongest memory of that night is simply a blissful laughter after another for approximately 2 hours generated by you, an Amy Sedaris on fire!
Thank You Amy also for signing my book... Yes... Magic happens!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
