REVIEW: SHUCKED a musical comedy at Open Air Theatre, Regents Park 10 May – 14 June 2025

‘It’s fun and you’ll laugh and probably enjoy the skilful timing’ ★★★ ½

Who knew that corn could so versatile, both visually and practically? The opening number in this upbeat show, in which nothing is to be taken seriously, lays down the (often phallic, of course) parameters with slick clarity. We’re in Cob County which is somewhere in the remote deep South. The inhabitants enjoy their insularity and the economy rests entirely on, well, corn. Scott Pask’s set has thick rows of it growing on either side of the stage.

So of course something has to go wrong. The corn crop wilts and Maizy (get it?), played with faux innocence by Sophie McShera, goes to the bright lights of Tampa in search of a solution. She returns with a boat rocking con-man, Gordy (Matthew Seadon-Young) which leads, inevitably, to misunderstandings and sexy encounters.

The choreography in this show (Sarah O’Gleby) is splendid including some high speed movement work and a nifty trick with planks and barrels because corn whiskey is crucial to the plot. And the music from the unseen band is compelling with lots of rich country and western influence.

Of course this a comedy and it is very funny in places – gales of helpless laughter from the Saturday night audience I saw it with. There are more puns than in any pantomime and, for me at least, that becomes a bit wearing. Moreover the pretty daring double entendres come thick and fast and that too begins to feel a bit overdone after a while. The best line in the whole show comes when a young couple are falling out. “This isn’t an argument” she says. “I’m right and you’re just saying things.”

There are some excellent performances in the mix. Ben Joyce as Beau (that’s Maizy’s – err – beau) moves like an athlete and has a beautifully modulated tenor singing voice. He finds warmth, outrage and anxiety in his role as the young corn farmer who really doesn’t want his fiancée to go to Tampa. Georgina Onuorah is terrific as Lulu, Maizy’s cousin and corn whiskey distiller – plenty of common sense and wisdom and a magnificent full belt.

Monique Ashe-Palmer and Steven Webb do a good job as the multi-roling, all singing, all dancing story tellers although his hammed up, camp humour gets a bit predictable.

It’s fun and you’ll laugh and probably enjoy the skilful timing of all those silly jokes. But don’t go expecting to be stirred.  

Images: Pamela Raith

SHUCKED

Book by Robert Horn

Music/Lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally

Open Air Theatre, Regents Park

Box Office https://openairtheatre.com/production/shucked