Not Just A Hollow Husk: Shucked by Maddy Campbell

 

Danielle Wade as Maizy and Miki Abraham as Lulu in the North American Tour of Shucked 

Photo: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Here in Minneapolis is the first National Tour of the 2023 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Shucked! Set in Cobb County, a small town that built its livelihood from the corn fields. But what happens when their prized crop starts dying with no solution in sight? Following this is a journey to a bigger world, heartbreak, and double entendres to the word “corn.” Filled with corny punch lines and crude humor in every other sentence, this is a show that’s sure to pack a punch. Be ready for a wild ride with fast flying references and jokes—you won’t want to miss them! It surprised me that a musical that is famous for its “shucking” amount of jokes could be profound. There were moments throughout the show that actually brought me to tears; it’s sure to capture your heart and deserves to capture your attention.

Helping to bring this rural-storybook show to life was the interactive choreography by Sarah O’Gleby and the clever staging by Tony Award-winning director Jack O’Brien. The combination made this show full of relentless fun, and this was apparent from the very first number, “Corn.” This song sets up the fable that is Shucked. While the characters tell the audience about their small town in Cobb County and throw around jokes and puns like they’re parade candy, O’Brein uses movement and lively staging to grab audience’s attention right out of the gate. My personal favorite part of the song was the soon-to-be-iconic syncopated table corn-choreography that was just pure fun. 

Adding to the folksy-fable world was the energy the cast brings to the stage. From every well-timed joke to the heartfelt scenes and connections between characters, it is clear this cast “pops” in this production. Some standout performances came from the Storytellers, played by Maya Lagerstam and Joe Moeller. They guided us throughout the show while setting a fast pace and high bar of performance from their first entrance. My favorite scene was in Act I where they interacted with Gordy, a foot doctor from Tampa, in a fast and inventive phone call “triangle.”  Engaging with the entire story, they seamlessly slipped into colorful side characters before sitting back to witness the more sincere moments in the show. These moments established them as trustworthy and honest guides. The characters themselves have agency and sass, but once you peel back the husk, they reveal earnest experiences that are easy to connect with. 

In between the humorous dialogue, Shucked has genuine themes throughout. Along with finding a solution to their dying crops, the characters learn lessons of change, love, honesty, and community. The show aims to not only hit you in the gut with more corn puns than what was once deemed possible, but hit you in the heart with unexpected ballads, and with that they are successful.  

    Especially living in a world that can feel full of “Walls,” this show is the perfect escape from daily life.

Expertly balancing humor and heart, Shucked is a performance that won’t be pushed to the side of the

dinner table any time soon. Savor this a-maize-ing harvest at the Orpheum Theater until January 11th; it’s

sure to be a field day at the theater! We all need “a little love” in our lives.