Edinburgh Fringe picks 2012: North Americans

The Edinburgh Fringe brochure is, no matter how you slice it, a thumping information overload of a tome. It's hard to even know where to begin – so we've done the work for you, slicing August's bible nto easy-to-consume guides. From the all-important first hours to the Free Fringe, these are intended as starting points to help you snaffle out the best shows. They're not exhaustive, instead picking out the shows that caught our eye in given categories, but when your brain can't process another flyer we're pretty sure this is the best way to work out what to see.

 

This is a guide to the Americans and substantial Canadian contingent.

 

 

Pleasance Courtyard, 2-26 August, 21:45

 

Following on from last year's best newcomer nomination, the 30 Rock writer and occasional hobo (in the show, not just in general) brings his second show to Edinburgh. He's dizzyingly young to have such an easy charm and control of observational comedy. There's a reason Tina Fey nabbed him for the 'Rock, you know.

 

Brand new, razor-sharp stand-up show from 2011 Foster's Newcomer nominee, star of The Secret Policeman's Ball and comedy writer for NBC's Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, Hannibal Buress. Generating laughs through his trademark combination of minimalist delivery and absurdist logic, Hannibal guarantees he'll be saying all the stuff you're hearing. 'Buress is a must-see' **** (Scotsman). 'Smooth delivery combines to delicious effect with pin-sharp observations' **** (Guardian). 'This elegantly sarcastic 28-year-old has a powerful comedy arsenal at his disposal' **** (Chortle.co.uk).

 

I'm not just being rude with the hobo thing, you know: 

 

 

 

The Assembly Rooms, 2-26 August, 20:10

 

Inexplicably not-sold out show featuring Canucks Craig Campbell, Glenn Wool and token not-be-facial-haired Stewart Francis. They're loud, big characters who cover masterly craftsmanship (Wool), sharp one-liners (Francis) and a credit on a movie about Playboy magazine (Campbell). This is the first time you'll get all three together in fifteen years – as they have pointed out, it's probably the best value ticket on the Fringe.

 

It was 15 years ago three fresh faced young Canadian comics, Stewart Francis, Craig Campbell and Glenn Wool made their Edinburgh debut at the fledgling Stand Comedy Club. A decade and a half later and they’ve grown into formidable performers with an enviable string of broadcast credits and live touring under their belts. Each of them could and have filled theatres up and down the land. But this year they’re back together in a feature length show that’s just simply got to be the best value for money on the Fringe ever.

 

Campbell, RuHoGoNe-ing:

 

 

 

 

 

Underbelly Cowgate, 2-26 August, 21:05

 

Sleaze, menace and mime: Phil Burgers is back as the only act on the Fringe with a more sensible pseudonym than his actual name. You can expect to always feel one step behind the beautifully warped thinking of the good Doctor, which will only make it all the more impressive when you catch up with what he's doing.

 

Rapidly becoming an international comedy sensation, 2011 Total Theatre Award nominee Doctor Brown returns with a brand new hour of absurd visual humour. 'His combination of clowning, oddity and low-level menace constitute one of the funniest shows on the fringe' **** (Guardian). ‘An extraordinary talent… So visceral it is addictive' **** (Scotsman). 'If you want your imagination stretched, pinged back again and stretched once more — and ditto, your conception of what a comedy show can be — Doctor Brown's Becaves is a must-see' **** (Times). 'Unforgettable... Doctor Brown is good for what ails you' ***** (Fest).

 

Blap blap: 

 

 

 

Assembly Roxy, 14-27 August, 20:00

 

Could Nanjiani be this year's Buress? He's already moved from the independent New York comedy scene to sew up the cool American TV market with Portlandia and The Colbert Report, although with a wife and family back in America to riff on, he's got a unique pedigree to draw on.

 

Kumail Nanjiani is an American comedian who moved to the US from Pakistan when he was 18 years old. Some of his comedy is about that, most of it is not. Most of his comedy is about the things he loves - video games and horror movies - and the things he's afraid of - loud noises, strangers, horror movies.

 

Racists: 

 

 

 

Gilded Balloon at Third Door, 2-27 August, 15:15

 

We saw Ryan a few weeks ago at a Monkey Toast preview and all her strengths were on show: building up a set of expectations with her glossy Canadian looks, before sucker punching both the audience and host David Shore with a sly wit. She's in control and she knows it.

 

Sweeter than that first bite of fresh lemon from the tree, this award-winning comedian proves the things in life that make us bitter can actually be hilariously delicious. 'Tiny, pretty ... with quite a dark, savage wit' (Londonist.com). 'A compelling act' (List). 'Warped wit ... striking presence ... killer lines ... calm confidence' (Scotsman). As seen on Channel 4's Campus, BBC2's Episodes, E4's Dirty Digest and more.

 

Stand up last year:

 

 

 

Pleasance Courtyard, 2-26 August, 20:00

 

If you know him as one of the few north Americans (Canadians) to crack several of the UK TV shows, you might want to steady yourself for the foul mouth that live Tom brings. He's another comedian who's been in the UK long enough to get the measure of how to work a British audience: tackling tricky subjects with Brendon Burns-esque attitude.

 

Star of BBC 1’s Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Lee Mack’s All Start Cast, Channel 4’s Stand Up for the Week and Dave’s One Night Stand. Following a sell-out UK tour, don’t miss Canadian émigré Tom Stade with a brand new live show. One of the country’s most exciting talents. Catch him before he’s a household name. ‘So cool he could well be the answer to global warming. Gloriously Funny’ Scotsman. Sublime, imaginative, original and hilarious’ Rhod Gilbert. Stand-up elite … genuinely classy … incredibly funny’ Chortle.co.uk.

 

Apollo, live: 

 

 

 

Assembly George Square, 2-12 August, 21:00

 

We're sticking with our thinking that while last year's Edinburgh concluded with a lot of ink spilt about sketch troupes and audience interaction, this year is going to be all about improv. Contributing to that are the Pajama Men, the New Mexico duo with a Flight of the Conchords-esque  line in musical comedy. They're going off-script here so anything could happen. Read our interview with a Pajama Man here. 

 

Fresh from eight weeks of smashing it on London's West End, The Pajama Men come to Edinburgh, in their street clothes, with a completely improvised set. Each performance will feature different and exceptional comic guests and musical accompaniment. Every show will be different; every show will be pretty good. If you've never heard of The Pajama Men, it's worth mentioning that they've received a ton of stars and comedy awards worldwide. Seeing them raw and unscripted like this is like seeing a snow leopard mate with an eagle.

 

A clip from last year's In The Middle of No-one: 

 

 

 

 

 

Assembly George Square, 16-25 August, 18:15

 

'Experienced' sounds like a sly dig but it really isn't supposed to be: if you want a man who can handle his material and free wheel with the best of them, Proops is as good as he's always been. He's also doing an Edinburgh podcast if you want more quiff action.

 

Greg Proops is a stand-up comic from San Francisco. He lives in Hollywood. It’s not that bad. Really. His new stand-up show is an hour of vitriol and profanity. With breaks for pointed commentary. Greg supports Occupy and hates what you hate.

 

Stand up: 

 

 

 

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 2-26 August, 19:30

 

Positive and perky but with a subtly-exploited vein of neuroses: Smith is an anti-Katherine Ryan in a Candy Bar haircut. At a time that comedy isn't quiet about declaring how everything is the worst, Smith is almost counter-cultural in her ability to see the best in everything without heading downmarket.

 

Life's great when you're rich(er than most people on the planet). Not only does DeAnne pay strangers to remove her body hair, she also has a guy drive her around town in a large, expensive vehicle. (Okay, a bus.) But still, this 2011 Barry Award Nominee's doing waaaay better than 1.7 billion people in poverty. This is a show about how sweet life is, and could be. (Also includes ukulele tunes, free candy.)

 

Courtesy of Oxfam, sort of: