On Demand
Selected Shorts
Sunday, September 06, 2009
-
iStock PhotoPeople with Problems
“‘Find the chef,’ the groom called. ‘To the kitchen!’, the bride said. ‘To the kitchen!’ the crowd chanted. Like a horde they rose to their feet and surged towards the Amerigos, wearing dangerous smiles.”—David Schickler, “Wes Amerigo’s Giant Fear.”
A gifted child transforms a community with her cooking, and a neurotic meets his match.
David Schickler, an alumnus of the Columbia University MFA Writing Program and the author of KISSING IN MANHATTAN among other books, is well known for his tales of unexpected love and grace in unlikely settings. In the first story on this program, “Wes Amerigo’s Giant Fear,” a family catering business veers into the surreal, and a gifted child proves that home cooking really does have special properties. This delicious tale was read at Edith Wharton’s home, The Mount, in Lenox, Massachusetts, by SHORTS host Isaiah Sheffer.
The Schicker tale is all about food, and for dessert we present Miranda Mellis’s short tale about a bizarre psychotherapist, “The Doctor of Mental Health.” It is read with just the right touch of peevish bemusement by the actor and humorist David Rakoff, author of Don’t Get too Comfortable and Fraud and a contributor to “This American Life.”
“Wes Amerigo’s Giant Fear,” by David Schickler, read by Isaiah Sheffer
“The Doctor of Mental Health,” by Miranda Mellis, read by David Rakoff
For additional works featured on SELECTED SHORTS, please visit Symphony Space
We’re interested in your response to these programs. Please comment on this site or visit www.selectedshorts.org.
The Schicker tale is all about food, and for dessert we present Miranda Mellis’s short tale about a bizarre psychotherapist, “The Doctor of Mental Health.” It is read with just the right touch of peevish bemusement by the actor and humorist David Rakoff, author of Don’t Get too Comfortable and Fraud and a contributor to “This American Life.”
“Wes Amerigo’s Giant Fear,” by David Schickler, read by Isaiah Sheffer
“The Doctor of Mental Health,” by Miranda Mellis, read by David Rakoff
For additional works featured on SELECTED SHORTS, please visit Symphony Space
We’re interested in your response to these programs. Please comment on this site or visit www.selectedshorts.org.
Podcast
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to the Podcast
Looking For a Specific Story?
For questions about the availability of specific stories or programs, please contact shorts@symphonyspace.org
Selected Shorts Now a Podcast!
Selected Shorts is now available as a weekly podcast. Subscribe (for free) today and never miss another episode.
More
Comments
Refresh
People with Problems
Listened to this story at least 6 times when on itunes. As it is no longer listed how can I get a copy....not only is the story great, the narrator was fantastic.
Thank you
Dear Louise:
Thank you for your interest. Unfortunately, we are able to offer our programs in digital formats for only limited times, but but some individual stories are made available on cassettes or CD anthologies; please see our website, www.selectedshorts.org. for information about these.
Leave a Comment
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. WNYC reserves the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the WNYC.org Comment Guidelines before posting.