Fifteen minutes later than billed, ‘Eleanor Conway’s Comedy Rumble’ gets off to a rough start with some awkward audience banter by Conway and then a leaden introductory three minutes from guest Damon Clark. Fortunately, things get better from there, with our other guest comedian, Rory O’Hanlan, proving more of a hit. Some aspects of the panel show format don’t work – the round cards overstay their welcome – but overall the structure gets the audience cheerfully involved and Conway, Clark and O’Hanlan have enough sparkle to keep the laughs going during the rough patches even turning a spectacular tumbleweed moment from O’Hanlan into a running joke. Entertaining enough, the ‘Comedy Rumble’ is a victory on points, if not a knockout.

Underbelly Bristo Square, until 26 Aug, 10.45pm.
tw rating 3/5 | [Andrew Bell]