OBSERVER: Splash Zone
Zoe Coombs Mar (pictured) is no stranger to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – she won an award way back in 2016 for ‘most outstanding show’ – and she continues to make waves (pardon the pun) in The Splash Zone, her latest offering for the 2025 MICF.
Fear not front-seat enthusiasts, you’re safe – but only in one sense – Marr does like to chat so there’s no ducking under when you’re up that close.
Launching on stage to the hyped-up techno tune Sandstorm, there is definitely a sense a storm is coming – and it certainly does in the form of Marr unhinged.
Energy and anticipation ran high as she dove into a whirlwind of storytelling, drawing on childhood experiences in Grafton and a chance encounter with a peculiar woman on a train—an interaction that left a lasting impression.
Her rapid-fire stream of consciousness flowed thick and fast, frequently derailed by her own amusing tangents, adding to the show’s unpredictable charm.
Playing more to her ADHD than lesbianism, her banter with the audience leads to tales of random encounters with Uber drivers and, surprisingly, Trump supporters in her audience.
Hilarity and a little profanity feature in her polished and seamless delivery – she clearly knows her material.
Though The Splash Zone may be a misleading title—feeling more like a storm zone than a gentle spray—its core message is clear: keeping conversation alive.
And Marr does just that with relentless energy, sharp wit, and an uncanny ability to turn the seemingly mundane into comedic gold.
In a time when open dialogue feels more important than ever, she reminds us that humor, no matter how chaotic, is one of the best ways to keep the conversation going.
Performance dates: until April 20
Where: Melbourne Town Hall, Powder Room
Cost: $25-$42
Bookings: https://www.comedyfestival.
com.au/ browse-shows/the-splash-zone/
- Review by Beth Klein