COMEDY

Alice Fraser: Ethos

Underbelly, Bristo Square (Venue 302) Many of Fraser’s gags have a deadeningly machine-tooled quality to them, fulfilling all the technical requirements of a joke without actually being funny. Ironic then, that the Aussie ex-lawyer is accompanied onstage by a computer, Ethos, that feeds her straight lines that she occasionally steps on. She’s at her best when she’s herself – describing a notorious sex-pest on the Melbourne comedy scene – but when she tries to “win us back” with a song about the Me Too movement it’s cringeworthy. The harder Fraser works at being funny, the less successful she is – and she does try very hard.

RORY FORD

Until 27 August. Today 7:55pm.