Online readthrough for the next three weeks - Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

[wildeabandon]

For the rest of August we'll be doing the first two seasons of Hitchhikers Guide. The scripts are available for Kindle or Kobo for £7.99 - let me know if you want to participate but the cost is prohibitive and I'll buy you a copy. The text is unchanged from the original 1985 edition, so if you have a dead tree version you can use that.

I haven't decided yet whether I'll cast consistently, either for the whole thing or for each set of four episodes, but will make the decision based on whether there are lots of people wanting particular parts, and how consistently people plan to attend. There's a long list of characters here, although it covers all seasons and formats, so a lot of them won't be included. Whether I cast consistently or not I'm planning on doing so for the whole thing in advance, since I'm going to be a bit busy getting cut up next week, so could you let me know preferences for both seasons, and which days you plan on attending. (Although if you're not sure then just make your best guess, and I'll recast if people drop in or out closer to the time)

Poll #24471

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 13

View Respondents

Would you like a part in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?

View Answers

Yes, please cast me for Sunday 16th August (S1E1-4)
9 (69.2%)

Yes, please cast me for Saturday 22nd August (S1E5-6, S2E1-2)
8 (61.5%)

Yes, please cast me for Sunday 30th August (S2E3-6)
8 (61.5%)

Not this time, but have fun!
4 (30.8%)

Comments

[sfred]

I would be happy in any non-woman part, but I don't think I'd be a very good Zaphod.

[djm4]

I would be happy in any part/set of parts. I was originally expecting not to be able to do this Sunday due to BiCon, but I now can.

I feel that it would be fun to rotate roles, but I realise that might be more trouble than it's worth for you to plan, and others might feel differently.

I think we should have a separate role to read out the 'FX:' directions, as they add useful context and some of them are fun.

[tenebrousphantom]

I'd still prefer no women, but other than that, I started making a list and concluded that they all rock and I'm happy with anything.

I think it would be kinda nice to have consistent casting; but I think there are good reasons to go either way amd don't have strong feels :)

I agree about the 'FX: directions'

[the_elyan]

Attendance - will definitely try to make two, and maybe all three. If I'm going to miss one, the most likely is the middle one, because it's a Saturday, but if that's likely I'll try to let you know well in advance (though appreciate you will be a bit preoccupied...)

Part preferences (though obviously happy with whatever works for you)

Major parts - probably Ford, The Book, and Arthur (in that order). Don't think I could do Zaphod justice.

Minor ep 1-4 - Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz, Slartibartfarst, Majikthise or Vroomfondel

Minor ep 5-8 - Garkpit (waiter at Milliways), Golgafrinchan captain,, Gargravarr, Roosta

Minor ep 9-12 - Zaohod Beeblebrox IV, CompuTeach, Poodoo

[naath]

I think I would especially like to be the Book, but I'm not sure I can keep a straight face. Otherwise anyone.

[minihedgehog]

Of all the major characters I most prefer Zaphod!
I'm unlikely to be particularly good at Ford, Marvin, or Arthur. I prefer consistent casting but happy with whatever the majority would like.

A few minor characters I fancy:
Colin
Zem
Wowbagger - tho I have a particularly dorky interpretation of him and am perfectly happy if someone else has a more interesting one

Thank you!

[the_elyan]

Hope this isn't unnecessary miserablism, but don't think any of the three you mention are in the series we're doing (mostly series 4?)

Missed things, new things

[minihedgehog]

I don't have script access, so I have no idea who is in which :)

Re: Missed things, new things

[djm4]

You want 'Main Cast' and 'Additional cast for the Secondary Phase' from this page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy_cast_lists

[minihedgehog]

I come bearing a further request - Henry loves hitchhikers so I asked if he wanted to join us, and he asked if he can be cast for this Sunday, with the idea he might want to come in later weeks but wants to see how he gets on with zoom readthroughness. I realise that's not ideal with you wanting most of the casting done before surgery, but I thought if you're aware whilst you're casting that's probably still some helpful 🙂

His parts request:
Zaphod, any vogon(s), vroomfondle, number 2, Eddie, whale, shack man, anyone else

My commentary:
It's a thing we share that makes us both good Zaphods, I'm happy to give it to him.

I realise at this point I don't actually have any positive parts requests 😂
I'm adding "no vogons" to my list, and a mild preference for female characters, characters of indeterminate or 'other' gender, or else geeky / intellectual male characters. I don't mind collecting small / medium parts, that's unusually fun in hitchhikers 😄

Re: Missed things, new things

[minihedgehog]

Thank you! 😄

[juliet]

Update -- I won't be able to make Sun 30th after all :( but hope you all have fun!