Kiss was intended to be comic, says Les Miserables organiser
A kiss between two male actors has been removed from the musical Les Miserables after complaints from members of the public.
The kiss was part of the performance until June 2, and led to at least two complaints to the Media Development Authority (MDA).
In a statement to The New Paper on Sunday, an MDA spokesman confirmed complaints were made, and said "the same-sex kiss was not highlighted in the script when it was submitted to MDA for classification."
It was for this reason that the performance was given a General rating.
"Upon receiving feedback from members of the public, MDA reviewed the performance and confirmed that the scene was present," said the spokesman.
"MDA advised the applicant that the inclusion of this particular scene meant that the performance had exceeded the 'General' rating issued.
"Under our classification code, such a scene would fall under an Advisory rating.
"The applicant decided to remove the scene so as to keep the General rating for the rest of its run."
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The spokesman said the MDA will be taking further action against the breach of licensing conditions.
TNPS understands this could include a warning or a fine.
Mr Moses Lye, who heads organiser Mediacorp VizPro, said: "Beggars at the Feast is a comical scene during which the villain Thenardier makes fun of the wedding guests. He gives one of them, whom he describes as queer, a quick peck on the lips.
"The kiss was intended to be comic. On June 3 we took action and worked with the producers to adapt the scene."
Those who saw the scene said the kiss was brief and was not a key aspect of the musical.
Mr Surendran Subramaniam, 30, who acted as Gavroche when Les Miserables was staged here 20 years ago, watched the performance here on June 2.
"It wasn't something that I was really thinking about after or was even affected by, but I feel it is just part and parcel of acting," the ship broker said.
"Removing it will probably not affect the show in any way."
Despite the incident, the musical, which was supposed to run from May 31 till July 17, has been extended until July 24 at Esplanade.
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