Brendon Burns and Craig Quartermaine in Race Off

Brendon Burns and Craig Quartermaine have really hit upon something provocative with their double-act exploring race issues. Currently though, this follow-up to 2016's Dumb White Guy doesn't make good on that show's promise. Race Off sends up any pretensions to fix racism in an hour. But it does have ambition and theatrical audacity, just rather too much to let journalists see it before it's fully gelled.

Acknowledging friction though, and the need to have conversations about white privilege lest it remain invisible, the Caucasian Burns and aboriginal Quartermaine effectively establish the foundation of their differing perspectives, from mischievously toying with each other's prejudices in their partnership's origin story, to the frankly staggering disparity in symbolism for them of the tourist attraction Rottnest Island.

There's a fair bit of Australian and Perth context to be established, as well as the pair's personal history. And they haven't yet found the balance of what they can take for granted and what they should expand upon for audiences who may or may not follow Burns's podcast or have caught the previous show. But Burns for one never tires of confronting the British arrogance behind imperial ignorance. Channelling Chris Rock, he extols the home nations, maintaining that “Brits...have got to go”. He and Quartermaine chuck in a glossary of phrases white people should and shouldn't be allowed to say for good measure.

The strong bond between the pair rather works against the illusion of spontaneous stage looseness they're trying to project. But regular bellylaughs, deliberate awkwardness and the occasional revelation remain.