Geoffrey Perkins dies in road accident

It is with great sadness that I have to report that Geoffrey Perkins has died in a road traffic accident in London. He was only 55. Geoffrey was instrumental in bringing Douglas Adams' The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy to radio back in the 70s, and in his roles as a BBC radio producer, director of Hat Trick Productions, BBC TV Head of Comedy, and latterly with Tiger Aspect Productions, he has been part of an incredible number of shows that I've enjoyed for nearly 30 years.

He was a great talent who will be much missed, and his list of hit shows just goes on and on. How many of these have you enjoyed?

The Catherine Tate Show, The Fast Show, Father Ted, Spitting Image, Saturday Night Live, The Harry Enfield Television Programme, Ben Elton - The Man From Auntie, The Thin Blue Line, Radio Active and KYTV, 2 Pints of Lager, My Family, Coupling, and Big Train. His latest show Harry and Paul, with Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, starts next week.

Read the full report on his life at BBC News, and here is his Wikipedia and IMDB page.

Geoffrey Perkins, 55, worked for many years for BBC Radio, where he created the game Mornington Crescent in I'm Sorry Haven't a Clue.

He also produced the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, one of the most successful radio shows ever made.
[...]
BBC director of vision Jana Bennett said she was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the news.

"Geoffrey Perkins was an outstanding creator of countless comedy hits on the BBC and elsewhere, and a very distinguished former BBC head of comedy.

Sixth Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture - With Live Hitchhikers Performance

REMINDER: The Sixth Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture will take place next week at the Royal Geographic Society in London, on Wednesday 12th March 2008.

The lecture will be presented by psychologist Steven Pinker, the Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. His subject will be "The Stuff of Thought, Language as a Window into Human Nature".

The lecture will be followed by a very special LIVE 30th anniversary performance of material from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio scripts which will hopefully reunite many original cast members such as...

Simon Jones as Arthur Dent
Geoffrey McGivern as Ford Prefect
Mark Wing Davey as Zaphod Beeblebrox
Susan Sheridan as Trillian
Roger Gregg as Eddie
Stephen Moore as Marvin The Paranoid Android
With a Very Special Guest as the Voice Of The Book

Proceeds from the event will go towards Save The Rhino, including the auction of a rare handcrafted model of Vogon Commander Kwaltz from the Hitchhikers Guide movie.

Also raising money for Save The Rhino are the team of runners in training for the RAW Africa ultra-marathon this April. Apparently one of their members has been spotted roaming around Hyde Park, dressed in his Save The Rhino suit. Check out the video evidence...

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, Live on Stage in Philadelphia - PART TWO

The Curio Theatre Company - "Great Stories, well told" has released details of its forthcoming 2006/2007 season which includes the second part of Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy" performed live and on stage in Philadelphia, PA.

I attended the first part of Curio Theater's production (review here), and I'm very much looking forward to the second part, which should comprise episodes (or Fits) 4,5 and 6 of the original radio series.

The show runs from March 15th, 2007 to April 7th, 2007 at The Calvary Center, Philadelphia.

The return of British comedy at its best! Curio brings Part II of Douglas Adams’ modern classic radio script to life with mixed media fun and frolics. Combining original storyboard illustrations created by Nonthaporn and Ray Saunders, over 200 sound effects, and a selection of talented actors reading multiple characters, this production continues the saga begun in February 2006. Don’t worry if you missed Part I - the experience is eye-opening regardless. And if you did see Part I, look out for differences with our growing technological capacity as we enter our second season!

Google Calendar Event

REVIEW - THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, Live on Stage in Philadelphia

Last night I went to the Walnut Street Theater, Studio 5 for Curio Theatre Company's production of "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - Part 1".

The show comprised the first three radio scripts with original sound effects, music and semi-animated illustrations. Three actors played multiple parts at lecterns, only emerging to perform two funny little dances between "episodes".

Susan Jude was the real highlight for me. Perky and expressive, her Book readings were superb, her hilarious Eddie the Shipboard Computer reminded me of an over-caffeinated Sandra Dickinson, and her Vogon Guard was as alienesque as they come. Frighteningly funny.

Drew Peterson was great as Arthur Dent, and his apoplexy at having his house demolished was fabulous. His quick switches for the Arthur/Marvin exchanges were also very well done.

Jerry Rudasill played most of the other characters in the show. From Mr. Prosser, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox to Slartibartfast, his energy was unfailing. His French accented Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz was something of a surprise, but one that worked particularly well.

The original sounds effects and music (no Journey of the Sorcerer) were mostly excellent, and the screen visuals included a headless Marvin, one-eyed Vogons, and a more alien looking Slartibartfast. There was a curious sound effect for the "man proves black is white and gets killed on the next zebra-crossing" line. Thundering hooves instead of the screech of tyres(?). Hmmm... Think Abbey Road rather than actual zebras.

The mixture of "audio" and semi-animated images remined me of another Douglas Adams script; the webcast of Doctor Who - Shada.

The script was almost identical to the radio version on CD, but different accents and intonations made it distinctly different to the BBC production. This entertaining show ended with the episode three cliffhanger, but we're promised that Part Two (episodes 4-6) will be back next year to take us on to the Restaurant At The End Of The Universe. I'm looking forward to it. Congratulations to all involved.

The show continues its run at the Walnut Theater in Philadelphia until March 26th, 2006.

THE HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY - Live On Stage, In Philadelphia

Just like to promote a new stage version of Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", which is playing in Philadelphia until the end of March.

British comedy at its best! Curio Theatre brings Douglas Adams' modern classic radio script to life with mixed media fun and frolics. Combining original storyboard illustrations created by Nonthaporn and Ray Saunders, over 200 sound effects, and five live actors reading multiple characters, this production promises to be a unique theatrical experience!

It's playing at The Calvary Center (February 16 to March 4) and The Walnut Street Theatre Studio Five (March 8 to 26).

I have my tickets for this small production, and it should make for a different evening's entertainment. Looking forward to it!

HITCHHIKERS MOVIE - Bidding war for Hitchhiker towel

BBC News has this report on the recent eBay auction of Hitchhikers movie props - Bidding war for Hitchhiker towel

Props from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy have been sold for charity - including a "life-saving" towel.

The stripy towel used by Arthur Dent, played by Martin Freeman, in the film eventually sold for £225 in the website charity auction, attracting 29 bidders.

Proceeds will go to Save The Rhino International and The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund - both supported by the late Hitchhiker's author Douglas Adams.

HITCHHIKERS MOVIE - The Hitchhiker's Guide to Douglas Adams

With this weekend's release of "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" movie, FilmForce has this nice 6 page article, remembering the late great Douglas Adams.

Friends and colleagues -- including Terry Jones, Neil Gaiman, & Stephen Fry -- remember the man behind the Guide.

Mark Carwardine's and Stephen Fry's entries appear on page 4.

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY - The Vogons have arrived!

Don't Panic! Looks like the Vogons have arrived early for this weekend's release of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy movie. I've already had word from Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz that this site has been scheduled for demolition...

ENERGIZE THE DEMOLITION BEAMS!

HITCHHIKERSMOVIE.CO.UK - British site now open

Worth mentioning that the UK site for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie is now open, and is radically different to the US site. Check it out at http://www.hitchhikersmovie.co.uk/.

How many secrets can YOU find? I found about a dozen so far...

HITCHHIKERSMOVIE.COM - Official site update

Worth mentioning that the official site for the upcoming movie version of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy has just had a big overhaul. Loads of new information and downloads available.

Glad to be of service...