Fridae

Livid Room Productions will stage a lesbian play in Singapore in late March. Stop Kiss would be one of the very few lesbian plays staged in the city-state which usually sees several gay productions a year.

Stop Kiss which will feature a female-female kiss tells the story of Callie (Adelina Ong) and Sara (Esther Yap) who find themselves falling in love after a string of heterosexual relationships. When their courtship culminates in a public kiss, they become victims of a hate crime. While Sara lies in a coma in hospital, Callie's finds herself questioning her identity and her faith in their relationship is tested.

When asked how long the kiss is going to be, Adelina Ong who is also the producer said, "We haven't timed the kiss yet, but I'm looking forward to a real juicy one."

While the play also touches on homophobia and gay bashing, it is not angst-ridden, political or radical. Ong prefers to see the play as a story on self-discovery and the love and friendship between two people who happen to be women.

"It just happens to be between two women. But because this is so, it could happen to anyone who's never considered homosexuality as an option before. And that's why this play is amazing... it makes everyone identify with the protagonists, from the falling in love, to having to muster the courage to fight for it later."

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Although the play is not about political rights, Ong who is also the co-founder of Livid Room Productions told Fridae in an email interview that the play hopes to debunk the prejudice that homosexuals are sick or perverse as "homosexuality and heterosexuality are two ends of a continuum rather than dichotomous entities."

Ong added that the play also speaks out against violence and hopes that people respect everyone's personal choices.

"Everybody has the right to choose whom they love, and how. You'd want the same respect given to you."

The production marks popular Singapore stage and television actor, Mark Richmond's solo directorial debut.

Stop Kiss which is written by American Korean Diana Son was named one of the best plays of 1999 by the New York Times and was Winner of the 1999 Media Award from Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) for Outstanding New York Theatre Production.

Stop Kiss
Written by: Diana Son
Directed by: Mark Richmond
Cast: Adelina Ong, Esther Yap, Beatrice Chia, Chua Enlai and Brendon Fernandez
Time/Dates: 8pm / 21 - 24 March 2002, 28 - 31 March (extended season)
Venue: Toy Factory, 17A Smith Street
Tickets: $20, $18 (students) includes entry to Go Dbl O on Friday nights.
Email: lividroom@hotmail.com

Editor's note: Fridae.com will be giving away 5 pairs of tickets to Stop Kiss and the cast party at Go Dbl O on March 22. See link below!