Medleys is an annual comedy revue, performed at the Union House Theatre and written by a group of medical students from the University of Melbourne. The Union House Theatre is the premiere theatre of the Union House building of the university's Parkville campus. The Med Revue has been running since 1915 and is the longest running 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 at the Melbourne Town Hall. After being banned successively from the Melbourne Town Hall, the St Kilda Town Hall and the San Remo Ballroom, the show relocated to the Union Theatre and food was no longer served. Currently, the show runs for 3 nights each year, combining a multitude of original sketches 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.
Contents
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, each featuring a series of stand-alone sketches and ending with an act of the musical. All sketches as well as the musical are original and written by the cast. Sketches generally have nothing to do with the title and 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.