Shucked

Review by James

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s that we’re all dealing with a lot right now. Well, worry no longer. Shucked has the remedy.

The U.S. smash makes its anticipated London transfer, and the fresh air of the glorious Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre elevates this fantastic production.

Shucked is a riotous blend of Broadway and vaudeville with a big country soundtrack (written by Nashville veterans), bigger dance routines, and relentless belly laughs delivered with impeccable precision by a talented all-British cast. It’s pure, unadulterated fun. And it’s all about corn.

The backwater idyl of Cob County is shaken by the demise of its corn harvest - lifeblood of its economy, sustenance, and happiness. Earnest Maizy does the hitherto unthinkable and enters the outside world to find a solution. In Tampa, Maizy naively stumbles upon Gordy, a crooked podiatrist (‘corn doctor’), who promises to fix the towns’ problems, while hatching a dastard plot to exploit its natural resources. Corn-based political commentary is what the people need!

A duo of narrators (including the brilliant Steven Webb) drives the story with self-reverential gags and had the audience gasping and whooping with pantoesque enthusiasm.

Cob County’s rustic aesthetic seamlessly fits into its new digs, with the rural escapism enhanced by themed food, games of corn hole (geddit?), and country classics piped around the venue.

The production’s sound mix falls short at times, particularly in full company numbers, but this fails to detract from the joy bursting from the stage.

The baffling number of empty seats begs the question why the UK marketing team hasn’t managed to repeat the viral success of its American cousin. There’s no doubt that Shucked’s material readily translates for a British audience and is helped along by clever rewrites including cameos from Mancunian wheeler dealers that would make Del Boy proud.

With country music having its moment in the UK, Shucked arrives at the right time. If the sea of smiles and impromptu sing songs of those departing are anything to go by, I’m not alone in wanting to return to Cob County.