#SHOWBIZ: Bittersweet romance sweeps KLPAC's Short+Sweet Musical awards
AN almost full house of friends, families and well-wishers greeted the actors of the 19th Short+Sweet Festival: Musical offering on Oct 10.
The 19th Short+Sweet Festival: Musical took place on October 10 at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) in Sentul Park. The festival featured eight 10-minute plays showcasing a variety of themes including comedy, drama, song and dance. The sets were minimal and the actors often used simple props like boxes as beds or tables. Despite some technical issues with the microphones, the actors managed to deliver their lines and songs.
The play "Untuk Lelaki Dan Wanita Yang Bercinta Tanpa Kata-Kata" won six prizes in the Musical category including Best Overall Production, Best Libretto, Best Actor (Male), Best Actor (Female), Best Director, and The Actors Studio Foundation Award. The play's story revolves around a man and a woman who meet at a bus stop and fall in love through their shared love for books, despite never having met each other or knowing their names.
This bittersweet ending was made believable by the chemistry between Tan and Looi, who are also real-life married individuals.
Abigail Khoo stood out in the play "Here Alone All By Myself" for her portrayal of a robot. She was awarded the Best Actor (Female) prize. Kevin Yii took home the Best Music Director award for his work in the play "How Do You Do", which also won Best Composition. The play about artificial intelligence's intrusion into a company's operations showcased Yii's vocal range and his ability to convey emotions through his musical exchange with his new neighbor.
The play "Tunang Paksa" had 12 actors on stage, telling the story of love and marriage through a grandfather's dream. The ensemble, despite having average voices, seemed to enjoy themselves. "Of Whiskers and Wire", the play about sibling rats in a city-wide quarantine, received the Artistic Director's award. The play's pathos was well showcased by Naveen Raja's countertenor voice and the director, Sharanya Radhakrishnan, won the Festival Directors award.
The play "Bug in My Head" dealt with trauma in a friendship, and the dark theme was portrayed through the characters' co-dependencies. However, it was felt to need more musicality. "Room for Make-Believe" revolved around a doctor treating unusual patients, including a toast-shaped pal, a teenage fairy, and an imaginary boyfriend.
The play dealt with loneliness and growing up, but the creator's potential was not fully realized. Lastly, "Catnap" was a Monty Python-style black comedy with a missing cat, a zombie, and two friends. The absurd premise was well-received.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
