Brisbane review - Empty Chair: unique and powerful insight

By David Wilson

Co-produced by Your Man Alex Smith and Phoenix Ensemble

Book, Music and Lyrics by Alex Smith

Direction by Tammy Sarah Linde

Musical direction by Emma Erdis

Choreography by Sabella Segal

Limited season at the Pavillion Theatre Beenleigh 21 and 22 March 2025

Your Man Alex Smith music available on Spotify, Bandcamp and Apple Music

The hugely talented Brisbane pop-rock artist Your Man Alex Smith has crafted a truly outstanding original Australian work which has been co-produced with Phoenix Ensemble as part of their After Dark suite. Empty Chair is a unique and powerful insight into Smith’s lived experience with Borderline Personality Disorder, set against an excellent rock-opera-like soundtrack.

Empty Chair is emotional, moving, confronting, alarming, frightening, authentic, clever and hilarious, providing a wonderful vehicle to shine a light on BPD and to also showcase the extraordinary creative talents of Smith. Empty Chair takes the audience on Smith’s journey from diagnosis to treatment in a package that is the perfect blend of humanity and entertainment. The audience felt that they were inside Smith’s head to some extent, while at the same time able to safely observe from the outside. This is a very compelling work, masterfully told, and deserving of a wider audience.

The creative team of Tammy Sarah Linde, Emma Erdis and Sabella Segal have together done a wonderful job - the simple, minimalist set provided the perfect base for the complexities of the performance, with great sound and lighting assisting to deliver a wonderful visual spectacle. The blocking and choreography in particular were excellent, and the intentional tempo variations throughout the show were used to great effect.

Your Man Alex Smith was simply outstanding throughout. His vulnerability on stage is wonderfully powerful, and the strength of the connection he developed with the audience was appropriately reflected in a long, meaningful standing ovation. This is a very demanding role, emotionally, physically and vocally, and Smith shone on all fronts. The original songs are difficult to pigeon hole in terms of genre or style - if you could somehow imagine the essence of a musical theatre show tune, infused with a touch of Peter Gabriel, Meatloaf, Freddie Mercury, The Who and Ben Folds you would be getting somewhere close. Wonderfully unique and in no way derivative, the songs themselves are the beating heart of Empty Chair.

Smith was very well supported by a small and versatile cast of very talented performers, each of whom were wonderful on the night, showcasing their talents through multiple roles. Their collective work as a representation of BPD and as ‘the racoons’ were very well done indeed.

Geena Schwartz was magnificent as Julia Bryer, Smith’s self-centred ex who appears during counselling sessions to constantly undermine and sabotage any progress. Her wonderfully cartoonish portrayal was spot-on, reminiscent of a little red devil on Smith’s shoulder.

Kristina Redwood was excellent as the Psych, providing an even line throughout the show for Smith to oscillate around. Her on-stage relationship with Smith was very well done, and the timing of her delivery, comedic or otherwise, was fabulous.

Douglas Berry was a crowd favourite as Dr Anthony, the phony self-help Dr Google embodiment. Berry’s physicality was used to great effect, and his performance alongside Smith of ‘Splitting The Sky’ was memorable.

Micheal Enright was excellent in various roles throughout, and particularly as the younger Smith. Enright’s vocals were excellent, and there was a confident energy to their performance that was eye-catching.

Sam McLaughlin as Smith’s future girlfriend was wonderful. There was a depth of feeling to McLaughlin’s performance, and their on-stage connection with Smith during the cafe/ghost of Christmas yet to come scene was very well done.

Rae Rose was excellent throughout in their various roles. Their comedic delivery and timing was a highlight, and their chemistry and vocals with Smith on ‘Cool To Ride’ were first class.

Empty Chair is an outstanding original modern Australian work. While the limited season has come to an end, I encourage you to seek out the soundtrack on Spotify, Bandcamp or Apple Music.