With difficulty ring me during the performance (7)
I believe the answer is:
somehow
'with difficulty' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adverbs. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'ring me during the performance' is the wordplay.
'ring' becomes 'O' (letter resembling a ring).
'during' indicates putting letters inside.
'the performance' becomes 'show' (eg a theatrical show).
'o'+'me'='ome'
'ome' put into 'show' is 'SOMEHOW'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for somehow that I've seen before include "By one means or another" , "For an unknown reason; so who, me? (anag.)" , "By unspecified means" , "In an unspecified manner" , "In a way not yet specified" .)