Empty Orchestra 2017

Greg Reece Shearsmith, dressed in a sumo-themed fatsuit, steps into a karaoke booth and belts out The Human League’s Don’t You Want Me as the group gathers for a lighthearted celebration. Nearby, Connie Tamzin Outhwaite arrives in a bold Amy Winehouse-inspired look, the two share a quick kiss before Greg’s partner Fran Sarah Hadland, costumed as Britney Spears, swoops in and the moment shifts. The mood tightens as Roger Steve Pemberton arrives with his assistant Janet Emily Howlett; Janet, who is deaf, is dressed as Boy George, while Roger, missing a proper outfit, improvises by sliding on a clown’s nose when prompted. The occasion is Roger’s promotion, and Greg notices an envelope in Roger’s hand that lists a string of names—a detail that unsettles him.

Fran kicks off a cheeky moment with Whigfield’s Saturday Night just as Duane Javone Prince joins the scene wearing a Michael Jackson-inspired look. The group dives into a game of “pills roulette,” with each participant taking a pill that could be ecstasy, Viagra, ketamine, Paracetamol, a laxative, or a Tic Tac, a setup that heightens the party’s chaotic feel. Roger becomes distracted by the drinks and steps away, leaving Greg curious about what is written in that mysterious envelope, convinced that someone is going to be laid off. Duane launches into Wham!’s Wham Rap! while Janet uses a literal listener’s gesture—placing her hand on the speaker—to “hear” the moment, prompting Greg to press her about lay-offs. Connie discreetly grabs Duane’s phone to text Janet, and Roger reappears with shots, which he drinks alone and in solitude. Janet’s text from a supposed “Duane” hints that she should sing him a song if she likes him, ratcheting up the tension.

Under the watchful eye of Janet, Connie urges Greg to pick between her and Fran, a choice that hangs over the booth like a present inconvenience. Roger responds by playing Rainbow’s Since You Been Gone, and Greg teams up with Connie and Fran in a covert plan to seize the envelope. Roger, after dancing with Connie, finds himself aroused, while Duane calmly reveals that all the pills were Tic Tacs, deflating the moment’s tension with a practical joke. Greg finally reaches the envelope, and Fran’s name is circled, a detail that signals trouble. Roger then drops the bomb—the envelope contains divorce papers, signaling that his wife is leaving him. Fran responds with a powerhouse performance of I Know Him So Well (Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson), first directed at Roger and then, in a surprising pivot, at Greg. She duets with Connie, and in a moment of complicity, Greg mouths to Connie that Fran is getting sacked, a sentiment that remains unspoken aloud as Fran and Connie appear to sing to one another while Roger signs the divorce papers.

When the song finishes, Roger speaks to Fran in a somber tone, his news settling over the booth. Janet lends a soft voice by performing Only You for Duane, but Duane cuts the music mid-song after Fran whispers something to him. Confrontation intensifies as Duane scolds Connie, clarifying that he does not “like Janet in that way.” Roger insists that someone must be made redundant, yet he suggests that Fran should be promoted, flipping the hierarchy in a way that keeps the future uncertain. A hen do arrives in the booth, introducing Chantel, who belts out Titanium (David Guetta and Sia) as Janet watches over the evolving drama. Connie, watched by Janet, confronts and kisses Greg, while Roger catches the eye of a young woman across the room. Connie taunts Janet, who reminds her that she can lip read, a skill that matters in this tense moment. Janet then whispers to Fran, who confronts Greg and Connie; UV light exposes Connie’s lipstick on Greg’s mouth, and Fran proclaims that both of them are fired. Fran continues singing with Chantel while Roger dances with the young woman, leaving Greg and Connie to fall into a heated argument. In a final quiet moment, Duane and Janet meet eyes, and Duane places a hand on her chest, feeling the heartbeat as they share a intimate kiss.