#thecandlewasters

[sunsetinsanremo]

Oh my god

Only three more days until Tragicomic starts

[buffyscmmers]

“My parents didn’t think I was going to make it. But I did. Hence the name Hero.”

[anonsally]

Happy Playland

I finally got a chance to watch the Candle Wasters’ latest project, an original musical called Happy Playland. It’s a new direction for them, but also a continuation / deeper exploration of some themes they’ve examined (intentionally or not) before, including anxiety disorders and queer romance, with more looks at the negotiations of romantic relationships and how millennials interact with technology. 

Note: I am a big fan of The Candle Wasters’ work. There were a couple of reasons it took me so long to actually watch this series:

It came out in early August when I was at the beginning of a 2-week vacation to Wyoming, which was then followed by 3 days at home and then a 1-week work trip to Edinburgh, which was then followed by my belated wedding reception 3 weeks later, for which I had to do most of the preparation and planning. So I didn’t have a lot of leisure time for watching a new show.

It was released all at once. This model doesn’t seem to work as well for me. I know a lot of people like to binge-watch things, but for me, finding a free hour+ in which to watch the whole series is difficult. A 5-10 minute episode once or twice per week is much less daunting, and I wonder whether I get more invested when a series unfolds in real time.

I really enjoyed the series--the writing and acting and visuals were great. However, (like Bright Summer Night) it does have a darker tone overall than their first couple of projects.

Spoiler-free observations below the cut.

In addition to the focus on the themes mentioned above, there are also references to flatmate tensions (something explored at more length in Lovely Little Losers), parental expectations (something that has barely come up in their work before, except maybe obliquely in Bright Summer Night), and employment/financial insecurity (alluded to a little in Lovely Little Losers, but only just).

Because the format was not the vlog style the Candle Wasters have tired of (and, let’s face it, explored to the very limits and basically exhausted the possibilities of), it had as a backdrop a considerably more realistic view of how people connect through the internet than seen in either Nothing Much To Do or Lovely Little Losers. One whole episode focussed on the trials and tribulations of using online dating apps, and there was a little transmedia--Cris had an Instagram with some of “her” drawings and photos, including some that we saw her take in the series. I do think that transmedia may make more sense in a series that unfolds in real time.

The Candle Wasters are all now in their 20s; the concerns they are addressing in their work are shifting somewhat. Nothing Much To Do was about kids in high school; Lovely Little Losers was about college students; Bright Summer Night’s characters were mostly in high school. The three characters in Happy Playland are young adults with jobs, not students; in some ways, this makes the stakes higher. 

The scenes taking place in Billie’s head were very effective, and I thought anxiety was portrayed both realistically and sympathetically. 

I am, needless to say, very excited for Tragicomic, The Candle Wasters’ next project--an adaptation of Hamlet.

[buffyscmmers]

NMTD + EPISODES: 10-20 (screencaps credit)

“I don’t even like relationships. I don’t like relationships! What’s happening? Everything’s weird and I want it to stop!”

[buffyscmmers]

NMTD  + EPISODES: 1-10 (screencaps credit)

“So I’ve made this vlog. Feeling pretty successful actually, productive use of time when there’s nothing much to do .”

[all-other-blog-names-were-taken]

Finally got around to posting a picture of my kickstarter rewards from Bright Summer Night! Both the post card and the tee shirt are amazing, thanks so much to @thecandlewasters and the rest of the NMTD/LLL/BSN cast and crew for making incredible web series and for contributing to these great perks!

[anonsally]

One thing you didn't mention is that Tragicomic features NZ comics LEGEND Dylan Horrocks! He's possibly not too well known outside of NZ, but he's written a couple of very acclaimed graphic novels (Hicksville and The Magic Pen) and has done a lot of other cartooning work elsewhere. I personally think it will be Hamlet, given The Candle Wasters' other work. Based on the sometimes objectification-y way she was talking about her, I think that Leah (Lia?) is Ophelia.

You’re right, dear Anon! I didn’t mention this because I didn’t know who he was. Which says nothing about him and everything about me, because I am not in/from NZ and don’t read many graphic novels, or comics online. So thank you for this information! 

And now that I’ve paid closer attention, I see that he’s playing himself, which means that I have revise my speculations. This makes me think that he is a “ghost” not of her actual father but maybe of the artist who inspired her? and that the comic will be in-world, and by her. 

In any case, given the Candle Wasters’ latest announcement (!!!!), I agree, this almost definitely is a Hamlet-inspired thing. And I suspect you’re right that it will be spelled Lia!

[anonsally]

toomanyfeelings5 replied to your post: A few thoughts on the pilot for Tragicomic

i was thinking that lea might be laertes, and that fiona might be ophelia, but either way, i’m intrigued by this potentially-hamlet adaptation!

Ooh! I didn’t think of that possibility! I did wonder if Fiona might be Polonius, though. Because our protagonist was trying to figure out how to get to talk to Leah alone (i.e. “private time”), by showing up at their house when Fiona has a piano lesson.