Amy Sedaris

Amy Sedaris has a number of guises, many of which are familiar through the stories her brother, David, tells on NPR’s This American Life and in his books. Together, the siblings have written and performed plays as The Talent Family. Then there’s her notorious Jerri Blank character, the crack-whore-turned-high-school student in the Comedy Central series and film, Strangers with Candy; her roles on Just Shoot Me, My Name is Earl, and Sex and the City; and her memorably odd appearances on Late Night with David Letterman. Sedaris insists, however, that she is not an actress but rather a clown—which explains her penchant for donning costumes, wigs, and fat suits when throwing her real-life dinner parties.

In fact, Sedaris enjoys entertaining so much that she’s written a book about it. Though I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence is billed as “an entertaining book on entertaining,” it’s no joke. “I don’t like joke cookbooks, because I can’t take them seriously,” Sedaris has said. Indeed, the book offers up hundreds of real recipes, tips, and craft projects, copiously illustrated with drawings and photos. Its creator just happens to be a wacky hybrid of Martha Stewart and Cindy Sherman, someone who works in a fantasy kitchen envisioned by an eight-year-old girl in the 60s. A ceramic squirrel keeps watch over a pumpkin pie, hamburgers wear smiley faces made from olives on their buns, and the spreads are laid out on an impressive array of vintage tablecloths. “All the props in the photographs are mine,” Sedaris said. “I hired a team of friends, and we made certain crafts and prepared certain foods … We did it all in my apartment in the summer—that’s why the cakes are melting.” A self-contained universe, the book strikes a balance between comically surreal and delightfully authentic.

Besides entertaining, Sedaris’ very favorite thing to do is spend time alone. This makes her the perfect candidate for a trip to our desert island. She can enjoy the solitude, and also plan elaborate parties—perhaps co-hosting them with Ricky, the imaginary boyfriend she lived with for fourteen years. Despite her vivid imagination, it appears from the list of items she’d take to the island that Sedaris is, ultimately, quite a practical woman:

1) Tanning lotion. I’ll want to work on my tan the right way so when someone saves me, I’ll look good for the camera.

2) Tampons. Need I explain? I’m not a “sponge” girl—island or no island.

3) All my old Girl Scout books, so I can read about things like how to make a fire and create your own clothesline.

4) Marijuana. Because I like it and would be able to escape; and there might not be a dealer on the island.

5) John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, because I could never get past that page about the turtle in the road; it was endless. I read all his books in high school, but that’s the only one I couldn’t finish, and I know it’s great.

Amy Sedaris appears with Mary Lucia at the Fitzgerald Theater November 15 as part of The Current Fakebook, a lecture and music series sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio. 651-290-1221; www.mpr.org/events


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