Musical comedy ‘Shucked’ delivers sweet corny time

DOWNTOWN – San Diego is getting Shucked through Aug. 17. The Tony award-winning comedy musical plays at the Civic Theatre as part of Broadway San Diego’s 47th season.

It’s the only original piece in the season yet contains familiar kernels of truth about family, community and love.

The Shucked soundtrack, from Grammy Award–winning songwriting team Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, has plenty of humorous lyrics, beginning with opener “Corn” which sings “Candy corn, kettle corn, put it in your mouth / It’s the same goin′ in comin’ out.”

Seeing the musical in person brought a harvest of visual corny innuendo missed in the soundtrack alone. Plus, love interest Beau’s brother Peanut (Mike Nappi) did not have a solo like many leads, but in Robert Horn’s book has frequent hilarious asides as a literal-minded hick with a heart of gold(en corn).

While there is a bit of a dichotomy between the population of Cobb County and the city folk of Tampa, the show is careful to note the prideful rural community is simple by choice, not through stupidity.

“When comedy is smart, you don’t need to offend,” Tyler Joseph Ellis (Storyteller #2) said in a phone interview prior to the tour arriving in San Diego. “And I think that’s what the show does so well, and why it’s performing well on tour is that we can all laugh at this because it’s just well constructed musical comedy.”

Director Jack O’Brien, formerly of San Diego’s Old Globe, had excellent pacing and timing in joke delivery.

Scott Pask’s scenic design, which stayed the same throughout, in a holey barn with the sky and corn outside, was beautiful while rolling props differentiated each setting. The understated lighting from Japhy Weideman did not distract. The people of Cobb County and Tampa sported costumes from Tilly Grimes and wigs from Mia Neal. John Shivers’ sound design and Jason Howland’s music direction were flawless.

Sarah O’Gleby’s choreography, plus the ensemble’s excellent dancing, brought mishaps and drunken shenanigans to life.

Kyle Sherman stepped in as Beau, the fiance of leading lady Maizy (Danielle Wade), on the night I saw it, revealing a stunning tenor voice in reaching solos. In fact, all of the solos showcased the talent of the cast in moving yet always funny serenades. Hearing the show’s most famous anthem, “Independently Owned,” from understudy Cecily Dionne Davis, gave me chills.

Davis also had great chemistry with conman Gordy, played by Quinn VanAntwerp, who had the same role on Broadway.

If none of this explains much about what the farm-to-fable musical is about, that’s the way it’s meant to be seen. Let the plot unfold on its own, safe in the knowledge that the show delivers a sweet, corny time.

“It’s best going in not knowing quite what you’re in for,” said Ellis, who brought precise physical comedy to his role as narrator.

For those who want to see the fresh production by a top tier cast with its original director, buy tickets online.