I began counting the corn puns and double entendres at the top of Shucked. Within three minutes, I had already lost track after five. Robert Horn’s witty book—set to music and lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McNally—fires off jokes at such a brisk pace that the barrage of wordplay rarely has time to wear out its welcome.
The musical unfolds like a homespun fable. Storytellers 1 and 2 (Maya Lagerstam and Joe Moeller) introduce the audience to the residents of Cob County, a rural community where life revolves entirely around corn—from the crop itself to its many uses, including whiskey. The action begins at the wedding of Maizy (Daniell Wade) and Beau (Nick Bailey), with Beau’s brother Peanut (Mike Nappi) serving as the ceremony’s officiant.
The celebration comes to a halt when the town’s corn supply suddenly begins to fail. The residents decide that no wedding can take place until the crisis is resolved. Determined to find an answer, Maizy tells Beau she plans to leave Cob County and travel to Tampa, Florida, in search of a solution. Beau strongly opposes the idea, but Maizy goes anyway. There she meets Gordy (Quinn VanAntwerp), a conman and podiatrist who bills himself as a “corn doctor.” A tangled series of events involving Maizy’s expensive bracelet, her sharp-tongued cousin Lulu (Miki Abraham), Gordy’s attempts to outrun the mob, and a cascade of comic misunderstandings eventually leads to the inevitable happy ending expected of a musical comedy.
Scott Pask’s set, dominated by a towering hollow silo, anchors the expansive Princess of Wales stage, while Japhy Weideman’s lighting filters sunlight through its wooden slats to evoke a lazy summer afternoon. Tilly Grimes’s costumes—straw hats, short shorts, and worn denim—complete the small-town aesthetic. Unfortunately, John Shivers’ sound design occasionally buries the lyrics during full-company numbers—an unfortunate flaw in a show whose humour depends heavily on wordplay.
One technical element proves less successful: during full-company numbers, sound designer John Shivers struggles to balance the orchestra and the singers, making the lyrics difficult to hear at times—an unfortunate drawback in a show built so heavily on verbal wit.
Sarah O’Gleby’s choreography for the energetic ensemble is inventive and playful. Highlights include dancers balancing atop planks set across barrels and the delightfully absurd corn-cob kickline that opens the show. Under Nick Williams’s precise musical direction, the score moves comfortably across styles, from the hoedown exuberance of the opening number “Corn” to the country-tinged “Travelin’ Song,” and the more reflective hurtin’ ballads such as Beau’s “Somebody Will” and Maizy’s “Maybe Love.”
The cast leans fully into the show’s depiction of small-town tropes and stereotypes. Danielle Wade and Nick Bailey form a charming “way down yonder” couple: Maizy the dreamer and Beau the earnest farm boy, clearly destined for one another. Quinn VanAntwerp’s slick Gordy carries echoes of Robert Preston’s roguish Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man.
Miki Abraham stands out as Lulu, Maizy’s tough-as-nails cousin, best friend, and confidante, delivering a powerhouse rendition of “Independently Owned.” Mike Nappi’s Peanut—the slow-thinking but surprisingly insightful bumpkin—is equally endearing. Lagerstam and Moeller, as the storytellers, keep the narrative moving at a brisk pace. Two moments in particular shine: a first-act sequence in which they juggle hats while miming a phone conversation, and a second-act scene where they help (spoiler alert) get Gordy thoroughly drunk.
Shucked is unapologetically silly, packed with groan-worthy puns and country-flavoured charm—but it also knows exactly what it is: a musical designed purely to entertain.
It may not offer profound insights, but under Jack O’Brien’s brisk direction, it delivers exactly what it promises: a cheerful, pun-filled theatre experience. As spring approaches, that kind of easygoing entertainment may be exactly what audiences are looking for. Be aware, however, that the production includes some adult-leaning comic references, so it may not be suitable for more impressionable viewers.
Running time: approximately two hours and 25 minutes with one intermission.
The production runs to April 5 at the Princess of Wales, 300 King Street West, Toronto. For tickets: mirvish.com or call 1-800-461-3333.
SHUCKED
Book by Robert Horn
Music and Lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McNally
Directed by Jack O’Brien
Choreography: Sarah O’Gleby
Scenic Design: Scott Pask
Costume Design: Tilly Grimes
Lighting Design: Japhy Weideman
Sound Design: John Shivers
Music Supervision, Orchestrations and Arrangements: Jason Howland
