Room 5064 Productions, available from Cutaway now

Author Douglas Adams has been locked in a hotel room by his publisher, not to be released until he delivers the long overdue manuscript of his next novel. The trouble is, he’d rather take a long bath and is having conversations with an imaginary rubber duck.

Mark Griffiths’ witty 42-minute fiction play based on the real-life 1984 event that saw the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy writer struggling to write his fourth instalment of the series (So Long and Thanks for all the Fish) is a delightful ‘what if?’ taking place behind a closed door. First performed in late 2017, the short double-hander play has since been a fixture at fringe events, and is now available as an audio recording with Adam Gardiner as Adams and Rob Stuart-Hudson as the duck.

It’s a fun turn, the dialogue feeling authentic to Adams’ voice, focusing on his insecurities and fears. The duck is his inner voice, his conscience, the devil or angel on his shoulder, reminding him that he should stop procrastinating and get on with the novel. Considering how much he was he was getting paid for the book, few would sympathise with a writer having to sit down and write, but the soul-crushing loss of inspiration can affect any writer at any point in time, and comedy genius notwithstanding, is no laughing matter.

Verdict: There’s a certain irony to my reviewing this play – in doing so I helped someone out who was up against a looming deadline – and anyone who has ever heard that ticking clock hanging over their head will recall doing anything to escape the delivery. Recommended for Adams’ legion of fans or anyone who has faced a deadline – which pretty much is everyone then. 9/10

Nick Joy

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