{
  "id": 15539027,
  "title": "#SHOWBIZ: Bittersweet romance sweeps KLPAC's Short+Sweet Musical awards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/showbiz-bittersweet-romance-sweeps-klpacs-short-sweet-musical-awards",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-19T02:00:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2026/10/1558661/showbiz-bittersweet-romance-sweeps-klpacs-shortsweet-musical"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nAbigail 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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nThe 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.",
  "summary": "AN almost full house of friends, families and well-wishers greeted the actors of the 19th Short+Sweet Festival: Musical offering on Oct 10.",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Untuk Lelaki Dan Wanita Yang Bercinta Tanpa Kata-Kata\" won six Short+Sweet Musical awards",
    "Abigail Khoo received Best Actor (Female) for robot portrayal",
    "Kevin Yii won Best Music Director for \"How Do You Do\""
  ],
  "editors_take": "The dominance of a single production at the festival underscores how strong character chemistry and cohesive storytelling can overcome technical limitations and minimal staging in short-form musical theater.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}