The Age reviews Rove’s latest stand up tour…

The first thing you notice attending a taping of Rove McManus’ consistently inconsistent variety hour on Network Ten is that off-camera he possesses a sharp, surprisingly natural comedic persona. That this is not always reflected on-camera can obviously impede the show, as can the element which McManus’ biggest critics have regularly derided him for: his defiantly safe schtick.

Appearing on stage last night in the first of three blockbuster Comedy Festival performances, he mostly retained that indomitably inoffensive charm. An occasionally amusing rant on MySpace and Facebook followed. This content appeared to resonate with his audience but many were nodding their heads in agreement rather than laughing out loud.

The harmless charisma can only stretch so far. It was only during some material on, oddly enough, bird baths that he began to hit his comic straps. In a minor onstage mishap, McManus pounded his microphone into his forehead and started bleeding. Shaken, he suddenly became a little unhinged and delivered a profanity-filled tirade that drew some of the night’s biggest laughs. He then attacked David Hicks, bin Laden and George Bush with equal vigour, all the while battling with a giant Band-Aid that wouldn’t stick in an attempt to stem his bleeding.

It was surreal to witness the flustered comedian, who is occasionally slated for his blandness, bemoaning the current levels of political correctness and channelling that angst for laughs.

McManus burned some goodwill by indulging in 10 minutes of material towards the end that addressed his treatment by tabloid magazines. It was unnecessary and veered towards boorish. Which is a shame because for the most part, Rove proved a steadily amusing 75 minutes of stand-up.

Rove McManus
Melbourne Town Hall Address 90-130 Swanston Street, Melbourne
10 April 2008 to 12 April 2008
Phone Bookings (03) 9658 9658