Medleys is an annual comedy revue

Revue

A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...

, performed at the Union House Theatre and written by a group of medical students from the University of Melbourne

University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...

. The Union House Theatre is the premiere theatre of the Union House building of the university's Parkville

Parkville, Victoria

Parkville is an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne. At the 2006 Census, the population was 4,980....

 campus. The Med Revue has been running since 1921 and is the only remaining revue on campus. Over time Medleys has changed in shape and format. It originated as entertainment for the annual medical ball but was eventually forbidden from this setting after the year of the great food fight

Food fight

A food fight is a form of chaotic collective behavior, in which food is thrown at others in the manner of projectiles. These projectiles are not made to harm or damage others, but to simply ignite a fight filled with spontaneous food throwing. Food fights may be impromptu examples of rebellion or...

 at the Melbourne Town Hall. Currently, the show runs for 3 nights each year, combining a multitude of original sketch

Sketch comedy

A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...

es and a two-act musical. Although The Med Revue is performed by medical students, the revue avoids medical jokes and parodies of faculty staff. Past titles of the Med Revue have included "I should be Souvlaki", "Fidel Castro Boy", and "The Derryn Hinchi Code." Proceeds from ticket sales are donated to different charity organizations each year.

Format

Medleys features a live band and a cast of approximately 20 students each year. Students are also responsible for all the lightings, sounds and production of the show. The Revue has 2 acts, both featuring a series of sketches and ending with an act of the musical. All the sketches and the musical are original and written by the cast. Sketches generally have nothing to do with the title, they vary greatly in their style, their structure and content.

Casting and Membership

All medical students studying at the University of Melbourne are able to take part in any aspect of The Med Revue on a voluntary basis. There are no auditions; the only requirement is that people are committed to the show and attend rehearsals, meetings and the 2 rehearsal camps which are held throughout the year, starting in March and continuing until the show is performed in late August or early September. The directors cast the show once they have decided which sketches are to be in it and when the musical has been completed.

Musical

The musical runs for about 30 to 60 minutes over its two acts. It includes full scale dance scenes and songs, with original choreography, plot, costuming and vocal arrangements. All cast members have roles in the musical, as well as playing roles in the sketches which precede it in both acts.

Past Medical Revues

1978 - The Sound of Mutants - Directed by Peter Cosgriff

1979 - A Funny Thing Happened on My Way Through the Anal Stage - Directed by Peter "Spic" Fear

1980 - The LXIXth Medliad - Directed by Peter "Spic" Fear

1981 - The Rocky Hormone Show - Directed by Bob Dunn

1996 - Three Colours Brown

1997 - A Clockwork Cumquat

1998 - So I Married an Axe

1999 - Rage Against Mr. Sheen - Directed by Andrew Lim

2000 - Mortal Wombat - Directed by Kim Le Marshall

2001 - I Should Be Souvlaki - Directed by Tristan Leech

2002 - Fidel Castro Boy - Directed by Daniel Engelman

2003 - A Fish Called Rwanda - Directed by Gregory Kelly

2004 - Pilates of the Caribbean - Directed by Jeremy Carr and Simon Liubinas

2005 - Sleeping with the Anemone - Directed by Patrick Ruane

2006 - The Derryn Hinchi Code - Directed by Clare Hampson

2007 - Dancing with the Tsars - Directed by Benjamin Privett

2008 - The Passionfruit of the Christ - Directed by Charlotte Reddington

2009 - The Land Before Swine - Directed by Teresa Cosgriff

2010 - The Dalai Wears Llama - Directed by Aaron Wagen

2011 - Lock Stock and Two Smoking Squirrels - Directed by Heli Simpson