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Episode ten of ten from this web series
For their fourth web series, creative collective The Candle Wasters shifted from using the plays of Shakespeare as inspiration, to an original story. Set in a children's indoor adventure playground, Happy Playland is a "queer rom-com musical" where employees cope with crushes, anxiety and life as digital natives. Neenah Dekkers-Reihana and Dani Yourukova (who both acted in Candle Wasters web series Bright Summer Night) play young lovers Billie and Zara. Billie is an agitated actress, while Cris is a social justice warrior. When the playground faces closure, the pair face upheaval.
Okay kids: here's how it is: it's a scary world out there, and soon you'll be leaving the safety of our happy playland and fending for yourselves in the land of grown-ups. You'll be moving out, getting that job, paying that rent. Start saving now! I got three jobs just to keep up with the things I need: new phone, haloumi in the fridge every night. You don't think about these things...– Cris (Jen Smith) dressed in a Kiwi costume, provides instructions in the ways of Happy Playland (Episode Four)
Tomorrow, Rain Ltd
Tomorrow, Rain Ltd
Made with funding from Skip Ahead, a joint initiative between NZ On Air and YouTube
Song 'Stop and Think' composed by Maxwell Apse, performed by Dani Yourukova and Neenah Dekkers-Reihana with the Happy Playband (Maxwell Apse, Jacob Baxter, Dylan Kelly, Jen Smith and Sam Trist)
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