Review: “SHUCKED” delivers a bushel of creative, corny humor to Fair Park

“SHUCKED” isn’t a shy show. That much should have been clear to the Wednesday night audience at Music Hall at Fair Park straight from its opening number. The Tony Award-winning Broadway comedy musical kicked off the evening with a full song-and-dance about the greatness of the show’s namesake crop in the aptly titled “Corn.” Filled with a sharp variety of appropriately corny comedy that kept the audience laughing throughout, it sets the tone for an enjoyable evening that brought a little something for everybody, even if it doesn’t exactly break new ground.

Written by Robert Horn, “SHUCKED” follows Maizy, a plucky small-town protagonist who’s getting married to her longtime lover, Beau. The wedding takes a tumble when the townspeople of Cob County notice their prized corn is dying off. We quickly learn that no one has ever left Cob County, especially since it’s uniquely enclosed by walls of giant corn stalks. The determined and headstrong Maizy soon finds herself at odds with Beau’s stubbornness and distrust of outsiders after she decides to become the first person to leave Cob County in order to find help in the outside world.

If you happened to see “Moana” recently, Maizy’s motivations might sound more than a little familiar. Similar comparisons to shows like “The Music Man” are readily available to make during the course of the evening as well. The show’s narration team, simply referred to as Storyteller 1 (Maya Lagerstam) and Storyteller 2 (Tyler Joseph Ellis), excel at keeping the story rolling and punctuating scenes with clever punchlines, however, helping the show retain its own feel despite the many familiar plot points.

Comedy is really where “SHUCKED” shines. While some of its corny humor can evoke the occasional eyeroll, it’s creative and laugh-out-loud funny much more often than not. “SHUCKED” just seems to have a knack for catching audiences off guard with a well-timed innuendo or pun, particularly when Beau’s less-than-bright brother, Peanut (Mike Nappi), is involved.

In the early scenes of the first act, audiences also have a chance to hear the show’s musical range. With songs and lyrics from Grammy Award-winning country music singer-songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, “SHUCKED” spins country and folk sensibilities into more traditional musical numbers. Ballads like Maizy’s first solo number, “Walls,” feel poised for an ACM moment, while later upbeat numbers like the standout “Best Man Wins” give the genres a Broadway spin to similar success.

Understudy Carly Caviglia took on the role of Maizy for this particular performance, bringing strong vocals and a solid sense of comedic timing to her performance. The same is true for Beau, played by Jake Odmark. Unfortunately, the show doesn’t do much to establish their relationship beyond showing how alike they are when arguing. Maizy’s actions after departing Cob County and meeting smooth-talking wannabe conman Gordy (Quinn VanAntwerp) quickly make her a bit harder to cheer for, too.

Gordy is posing as a podiatrist, or “corn doctor” as his neon sign declares. His opening number, “Bad,” establishes his underhanded pursuits, even though a hint of underlying heartache motivates his actions. VanAntwerp successfully balances both sides of his character, despite the plot moving too fast for its own good in developing his dynamic with Maizy. Maizy is almost instantly swept off her feet by Gordy’s grandiose promises to fix her corn problem. Her and Gordy’s return to Cob County leads to a tangled web of arguments and romantic trappings with Beau and Maizy’s similarly strong-willed cousin, Lulu (Miki Abraham).

Lulu almost feels better suited to be the show’s protagonist, with the sharpest wit of any character and a bit more edge to her personality than the wide-eyed Maizy. Lulu’s solo, “Independently Owned,” marks one of the show’s most memorable musical highlights, thanks in large part to Abraham’s show-stopping vocals.

As “SHUCKED” plows towards its finale, the production’s broader messages of acceptance and community kinship become even clearer. It leads to a mostly predictable second act, but the show stays fresh thanks to a quick comedic pace paired with crowd-pleasing songs and performances. In other words, if you’re looking for a crop of amusing jokes mixed with great country-infused music, “SHUCKED” is the show for you.

“SHUCKED” runs through December 15 at Music Hall at Fair Park as part of Broadway Dallas’ 24-25 season