If you’ve got a soft spot for all things corny – both figuratively and literally – “Shucked” may be just the ticket for you.
The national tour of this county-pop musical two-stepped its way into San Francisco’s Curran Theatre (jokingly re-named the Corn Theatre, and sporting a giant inflatable cob on its roof) on Sept. 9 and plays through Oct. 5.
It’s the story of a corn-fed smalltown girl – Maizy from Cob County, of course – who calls off her wedding and ventures into the big city (Tampa!) to save her town’s dying corn. There she meets a conman posing as a podiatrist (a corn doctor – get it?), and hijinks and romance reminiscent of “The Music Man” ensue.
From the rousing, toe-tapping opening number called – what else? – “Corn,” the show is unabashedly, well, corny. But the relentless stream of puns and groan-inducing humor is so over the top that the audience is on the joke. And the opening night audience was laughing. A lot.
And beneath is jokey façade, this tale about the heartland does have heart. It’s a story about the strength of love, family and community – even when people and places change – and the need to sometimes travel far from home to find yourself, appreciate what you’ve left behind and make your way back.
Local Cast Member
Bay Area native Tyler Joseph Ellis charms as “Storyteller 2,” part of a duo that leads the audience along and ably plays multiple diverting characters. Danielle Wade as Maizy and Jake Odmark as her beau, Beau, are well-matched, whether bickering or singing ballads. Mike Nappi plays Beau’s brother, Peanut, who is as sweet as he is dim-witted, providing many of the show’s one-liners. The brothers’ and friends’ dance talents are on display in one of the show’s best choreographed numbers, “Best Man Wins.”
Quinn VanAntwerp as the slick conman Gordy could give Harold Hill a run for his money, especially in the ensemble piece “Ballad of the Rocks.” But the song that brings down the house is the fierce, bluesy feminist anthem “Independently Owned” sung by Maizy’s whiskey-distilling cousin, Lulu, played by the vocally and comically gifted Miki Abram.
If You Go
The show, which debuted on Broadway in 2023, is recommended for ages 10 and up, and no one under 5 is allowed. There’s a lot of sexual innuendo, much of which would likely go over the heads of younger kids, drug and alcohol references, and some strong language, including a song titled, “Holy S—.”
“Shucked” plays through Oct. 5 at the Curran Theatre, 445 Geary St., San Francisco. Tickets start at $62. For more information, visit broadwaysf.com.
