Shucked
Book by Robert Horn, Music and Lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally
Directed by Jack O’Brien
Choreographed by Sarah O’Gleby
The Fox Theatre
February 11, 2025
Danielle Wade, Miki Abraham
Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
Shucked North American Tour
Shucked is all about corn, both in a literal and figurative sense. Yes, the story is about a county that depends upon its corn crop for its livelihood, but I also wonder if there’s ever been another musical that relies so heavily on goofy jokes for its appeal, especially as compensation for a relatively thin plot. Don’t read me wrong–this show is a whole lot fun, and it’s not really trying to be high art. It’s currently playing at the Fox, with a strong, energetic cast and lively production values, and unless you have no sense of humor at all, there are a lot of laughs here. I like it, but I can’t help but feel overdosed on sweetness at the end, kind of like I’ve had an overly large milkshake. It tastes good, but did I really need that many empty calories?
Sometimes, though, empty calories are just fun, and Shucked is certainly a lot of fun, even though I do keep wishing for a little more in terms of plot. What plot there is is padded out a lot with jokes that are funny, but don’t serve much purpose other than provoking more laughs. It’s a fairly simple premise, told by a pair of perky narrators (Maya Lagerstam, Tyler Joseph Ellis)–Cob County is an isolated community where all aspects of life revolve around its corn crop, which begins to die just as local couple Maizy (Danielle Wade) and Beau (Jake Odmark) are about to get married. Since nobody has ever left Cob County, the locals all object when Maizy suggests sending someone out into the outside world to find someone who may be able to help save the corn. Everyone, including Maizy’s kindly Grandpa (Kyle Sherman), Beau’s jokester brother Peanut (Mike Nappi), and even her independent-minded entrepreneur cousin Lulu (Miki Abraham) are against Maizy’s idea, and Beau is actually insulted because Maizy doesn’t trust him to fix the corn on his own. Well, Maizy leaves anyway, ending up in the strange new world of Tampa, where she meets Gordy (Quinn Van Antwerp), who Maizy mistakes for a corn expert, and because Gordy is a con man and in a lot of debt, he goes back with her for self-serving reasons, turning on the charm all the way and convincing Maizy that’s he’s in love with her. When they get back, everyone seems on board with Gordy except for Lulu and the jealous Beau, although Lulu soon reluctantly finds herself attracted to Gordy as well. Since this is an upbeat comedy, it shouldn’t be a spoiler to say everything eventually gets worked out, but it’s all in the midst of a bunch of corny jokes and puns and some catchy tunes and production numbers.
The cast is excellent, led by Wade in an enthusiastic, highly likable and well-sung turn as the optimistic Maizy and by Abraham as the tough-talking, enterprising Lulu, who gets perhaps the show’s best number, “Independently Owned”, turning in a great performance. Van Antwerp is also strong as Gordy, with the requisite charisma and charm, and Odmark does about as well as he can with the underwritten role of Beau. Nappi is fun as Peanut, displaying great comic timing, and although the character basically just exists to tell corny jokes, Nappi does this well. Lagerstam and Elli make for amiable, strong-voiced narrators as well, and the whole ensemble is perky, upbeat and all in on all the goofy jokes and humor.
The show looks great visually, with a striking, versatile set by Scott Pask and bright, colorful costumes by Tilly Grimes. The lighting by Japhy Weideman and especially the clear sound by John Shivers contribute much to the overall atmosphere and energy of the proceedings. There’s also energetic dancing cleverly choreographed by Sarah O’Gleby, and a small but lively orchestra led by music director Nick Williams.
Overall, Shucked is lots of corny, upbeat fun, with a dash of raunchiness thrown into the mass of jokes from time to time. Even though there are a lot of issues someone could have with the plot if they really thought about it, this isn’t really that kind of show. It’s here to entertain, and it does that. I guess sometimes you really just want that oversized milk shake, even if it may be sweetened with a little too much corn syrup.
Cast of Shucked
Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
Shucked North American Tour
The North American Tour of Shucked is running at the Fox Theatre until February 23, 2025