top of page

'only good times'

  • Writer: Amanda Riddell
    Amanda Riddell
  • Jan 10, 2025
  • 1 min read

This is the most common criticism of Shipwrecked On Islands: 'we love those songs, but that story is too dark. Please put those in a story that's nice, like that Tina and Jade story.' Newsflash: life isn't only good times, and some of the best musicals ever are actually about really dark subject matter. Sweeney Todd, Carousel, Next to Normal (which I hate), plus operas basically live in gothic darkness. - It's a really good political satire, and that's why people want to silence it or gentrify it. Peter and Fran certainly haven't said that. Taika either. Maybe that's why they're the rich and powerful people that encourage me, while the middle managers that are razzing me aren't so ballsy.

 
 
 

Recent Posts

See All
To Andrew Little

Briefly: I know what you did, and you might be liable. Admit that you and Chippy overreacted in '22 and '23. Covered your arse, but forgot that the police are separate. - As the minister for the NZ

 
 
 
Why won't I sign an NDA?

They exist to protect businesses from risk, not employees. The Beatles project is out in the open, and it's an IP that everyone has an opinion on. It seems like Sony were using their PR machine to ba

 
 
 
Quips

People keep focussing on the theatre part of musicals; let's focus on the music. - Scores that are as good as the old warhorses. An expectation that actors and singers should know a thing or two abo

 
 
 

1 Comment


Amanda Riddell
Amanda Riddell
Jan 10, 2025

The fables are a really good example of this. Though Weeded Out was good, those fables are the stories that the Film Commission wants to hear more about. They're uncompromisingly dark, but most importantly they're the right genres (rather than yet more musicals). Film buffs love dark sci-fi and horror.

Like
bottom of page