Anna Burnside reviews a performance that’s ‘all about the fun’.
A lithe Chicagoan in striped swimming pants is climbing over the desks in a tiny lecture theatre, folding his long legs and large feet - in white socks and hi-top trainers - into the cramped space.
Parker Callahan’s high energy uproar starts at 100 mph and keeps going. Projections (the venue is an actual lecture theatre when there’s not a gay maniac with a mullet performing a deranged brain dump show) are a mix of Instagram-style visuals, prompts for audience interaction and transcripts of increasingly absurd 911 calls.
Various characters flit in and out, including American politician Pete Buttigieg, the cast of Charlie’s Angels (movie not TV), the Sex and the City gals and Bottom Bear, a dude from Grindr played by a man in the audience.
The liquid cornerstones of gay culture - iced coffee and Diet Coke - play important supporting roles.
At one point he attempts to marry another audience member, but it doesn’t last.
There is singing, done mainly by us trying to follow the frenetic lines on the flashing screen.
The use of tech cites this in the 21st century, but in other ways this is a throwback to Fringe shows of 30-odd years ago: camp and chaotic, only tangentially political. Rather than centring identity and exploring it earnestly, Callahan is all about the fun.
This approach is as refreshing and welcome as a frosty DC.
Parker Callahan: Soda Pop performs at the Assembly George Square Studios (Studio Five) at 22:05 until August 24, 2025 (no performance on the 11th).
Photo by Paul Octavious.
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