In Cob County “we love Jesus but we drink a little”. Shucked plants its corn firmly and relentlessly. The result is more laugh out loud jokes per hour than perhaps any musical I have ever seen. Robert Horn (Tootsie) has slathered Broadway with lip smacking butter. Escapist entertainment is very rarely this delicious.
Superstar country music songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McNally have written terrific character driven songs. The music and lyrics match the tone of the book, are exceedingly tuneful and refreshingly different than other shows currently running. This musical comedy is confidently oddball. Jack O’Brien’s direction encases the show in a relaxed professionalism in which every line, song and character are given a brilliant chance to shine.
Why is the corn dying in Cob County? The overtly dumb and happy locals do not know. This community is surrounded by cornfields. No one alive has seen the outside world. They don’t feel any reason to do so. Small town gal Maizy heeds the call to find a solution. An outsider will enter this insular world. Cue the shenanigans.
A perfectly cast show reaps a bumper crop of pleasures. The seven principals all have spotlight moments. Two storytellers (Ashley D. Kelley and Grey Henson) energetically set the tone and narrate the action. Maizy (Caroline Innerbichler) and Beau (Andrew Durand) are the town’s popular sweethearts. Beau’s brother Peanut (Kevin Cahoon) is an agreeable idiot. What comes out of his mouth is imbecilic and gut busting hilarity.
Maizy’s best friend is Lulu (Alex Newell), an experienced gal in the matters of men. “Independently Owned” is her perfectly performed show stopper. Lastly, John Behlmann is the unctuous conman Gordy. All of these performances are lovingly portrayed caricatures. Each actor nails their well written and developed characters so the whole is significantly greater than the sum of very excellent parts.
Is there more to love? Yes. Sarah O’Gleby adds inventive choreography. All of the creative designers unify the rural theme. Every facet makes sense and the rustic nature of the setting adds to the merriment. The sensibility fully supports the story being told. All the elements in Shucked are impressively balanced. That these elements are all truly excellent makes this one a must see. Ebullient and phenomenally corny, Shucked is “farm to fable” at is zenith.