SHUCKED REVIEW: A Campy, Corn-Filled Comedy That Pops!

THE GLORIOUSLY GOOFY BROADWAY HIT HAS CROSSED THE POND AND IS TRULY A SUMMER TREAT that embraces its absurd premise with ears wide open and hearts full of humor!

★★★★☆

Set in the small, corn-obsessed town of Cob County, the show kicks off with a wedding that’s rudely interrupted when the town’s beloved corn starts mysteriously dying—and turning blue. With the town in chaos and her fiancé, Beau, unwilling to leave, Maizy (Sophie McShera) takes matters into her own hands, hopping on a plane to Tampa in search of a solution. There, she stumbles upon Gordy (Matthew Seadon-Young), a podiatrist who conveniently refers to himself as a “corn doctor.” But Gordy has his own agenda: he’s in debt to the mob and sees a way out when he realizes the stones in Maizy’s bracelet are worth a fortune. Cue his journey back to Cob County, a storm of misunderstandings, accidental engagements, jealous exes, and a con gone sideways—until everything (and everyone) is sweetly and hilariously shucked back into place by the final curtain. It’s a story that gets more ridiculous by the minute—and that’s exactly the charm.

Robert Horn’s book is an all-out joke-a-minute bonanza, chock-full of punchlines that fly faster than a popcorn machine at full blast. It's silly, it's surreal, and it absolutely knows it—embracing its campiness with a wink and a cackle. Not everything in the plot makes sense (and that's the point), but the comedy never lets up, keeping the audience laughing from lights up to the final bow.

Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally’s country-pop score is infectious and toe-tapping, even if the tunes aren’t destined to become classics. Still, numbers like “Independently Owned” are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. That particular showstopper is delivered with powerhouse precision by Georgina Onuorah as Lulu, who practically brings the house down every time she opens her mouth. Her performance is the sizzling center of the cob.

Also noteworthy are Monique Ashe-Palmer and Steven Webb, our delightfully deadpan narrators who guide us through the chaos with a twinkle in their eyes and impeccable comic timing.

Jack O’Brien’s direction pulls all these whimsical threads together with a confident hand, keeping the tone just on the right side of absurdity. And let’s not forget the ensemble, whose tireless energy and perfectly timed deliveries help the jokes land again and again.

This isn’t a show that aims to stir deep emotional truths—but that’s not its mission. Shucked is here to deliver pure, unadulterated fun, and it does so with bushels of charm. If you’re looking for a feel-good, laugh-out-loud evening under the London sky, this “corny” musical hits the spot. Bring a friend, bring your sense of humor, and prepare to be shucked by how much you’ll enjoy it. Grab your straw hats and join the Cobb County crowd—this is the summer’s most side-splitting spectacle.

SHUCKED - Regents Park Open Air Theatre

Attended on 31 May 2025