Jake Mace
Parker Callahan described his upcoming EdFringe stand-up hour Soda Pop as a multimedia, stream-of-consciousness ride through the mind of a slightly deranged gay man. We caught up with Parker for a pixelated pint to find out more about what inspired the show.
You can catch Parker Callahan: Soda Pop from July 30th to August 24th (not the 11th) at Assembly George Square Studios – Studio Five
Jake: Hi Parker! You describe your show as a multimedia, stream-of-consciousness ride through the mind of a slightly deranged gay man, tell us about what inspired the show and what the audience can expect.
Parker: The show really is my own proprietary blend of visuals, stand-up, music, and audience interaction, and as insane as it feels to say, this is the most accurate extension of my own thought processes and point of view. I say it’s insane because the closest thing I can describe the experience of the show to is doom-scrolling on TikTok where all the content is made by the same man and the longer you scroll the more you realize he’s a cult leader. Oh and you’re actually in the cult now and you’re really happy to be there. So that’s what you can expect 🙂 I’m also a gay guy being really gay in a speedo the whole time. Now what inspired it? My own sick intuition telling me I had to.
Jake: You say that you’ll be “hitting notes from the vulgar to the divine”, tell us what you mean by that.
Parker: Without revealing too much, at any point in the show I could be singing about dirty thongs or asking you which poorly-photoshopped celebrity fake nude is better, and the next I’m asking you to ponder your own mortality while I share my own theological interpretation of the afterlife. To me, there is no real divide between what is considered crass and sleazy and what is spiritual and meaningful. I’m a firm believer that everything is connected and therefore significant.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
Parker: My number one goal in creating this show was to craft something so fun and capital “D” Dumb that it allows the opportunity for each audience member’s brain to relax into a puddle of pink, chicken-McNugget sludge for the duration of my time on stage. You will leave refreshed and energized (brain fully reformed), and I did this because I think we all deserve this break. The world is so irrevocably fucked, and I’ve been given this gift of helping you forget that for a second. Take it.
Jake: Tell us what you’re most excited about for EdFringe 2025.
Parker: I’m excited to see what kind of trouble I get in both on and off stage. I’m an adventurer. A risk taker. A Freeek! (Shouts out to the underrated Geroge Michael classic.) I’m also really excited to see how an international audience reacts to the show I’m bringing. It’s very American, but in a way, so specifically American that it’s universal (states the proudly naïve man.)
Jake: If your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?
Parker: Okay the answer HAS TO BE SODA POP because that’s the name of my show. And since we’re in Scotland it’s gotta be an Irn-Bru. I love that orange bitch. This show is HIGHLY CAFFEINATED and we’re using real sugar, babes. It comes with a mini shot of poppers, and the rim is coated in a crushed up Viagra with just a hint of psilocybin. You order this show at the bar when you need a PUMP and you’re looking to party.
Image Credit: Paul Octavious
Lamesha Ruddock
Jasmine Silk
