Sydney Life

In high school, as part of the Year-12-Fest that was the last week of Term 3, we had our farewell assembly, our graduation night, but most anticipated by all was our FLOP - a bunch of skits put on by the Year 12s poking fun at the teachers and school, giving everyone a great laugh, and showcasing our “talent”.

Uni’s answer to this are the Revues.

It's Revue Season at Sydney Uni, and there are currently 7 revues running, organised by and starring students of the Faculties of Architecture, Arts, Law, Medicine, Science, Vet and the one that I went to see last Sunday, Engineering.

What convinced me to go, apart from the fascinatingly creative title of the show, “V for Vic Bitter”, was Winey the producer’s “simple equations” that she used to sell the Revue to us:

“Engo revue = bag out *(vegetarians + metrosexuals + John Howard + New Zealanders + red hairs + law/arts/med students) + beer jokes + hairy boys + crap dancing + awesome fun”

Indeed, I got to see some pretty incredible dancing skills in the men’s ballet - I was very impressed by their poise, elegance, and well rehearsed leaps, twirls, sashays. I was witness to some skits of ... questionable purity, as well as an interesting take on a boys’ choir, and peeks into a future without arts, law, or medicine students.

I was a bit shocked at the “heckling” which I have since found out is a very normal, nay, crucial part of the spectacle. For the more innocent readers among you, heckling is the audience’s say on the performances; for example, ingenious quips such as “I love Engo girls!” being drunkenly shouted out during the (remember, male) ballet.

I guess what topped the night off was the producer and director shaving their heads to raise money for Parkinson’s NSW - Winey had beautifully silky, hip-length hair that probably took her several years to grow and keep looking spectacular... and now it’s all gone. Though some people found some interesting ways to make use of it. After all, one (wo)man’s junk...

PS. Manning Level 2 (bar level, and venue of engo revue) is now home to a pie machine, (like a vending machine, only you press a few buttons and 60 seconds later a steaming hot pie appears) which produces pies that are, on good authority, “really really great. You’re missing out, Asako, see? This doesn’t taste like rat brains or pancreas or anything disgusting like that.” Mmmm...

Enjoy at your own risk!