REVIEW: Brilliant Shucked (Hennepin Arts/Orpheum)

The cast of the North American Tour of Shucked. Photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman.

Shucked is a light-hearted comedic musical that takes place in the small town of Cob
County, located “somewhere north of South and south of North”. The town and all its residents
are completely obsessed with and reliant on corn. When the corn crops mysteriously start to
fail, our lead Maizy heads to the big city to find answers, bringing back a con man posing as a
Corn Doctor. Hilarity ensues as love is found, lost, then found again in this clash of cultures.
Guiding us along the way are the two Storytellers, bringing a fairytale and fable-like quality to
the show.

This feel-good comedy is packed to the gills with jokes, especially puns. A quick Google
search revealed that the script contains over 200 puns in the two-hour musical. The puns range
from clever to groan-worthy, the type that would make any dad proud. Despite the light-
hearted and hilarious nature of the show, it is not what I would call family friendly. Many jokes
are sexual or macabre in nature, so use your own judgment when bringing the kids. If they can
handle Monty Python, they will be just fine in the audience of Shucked.

While the comedic script is the star of Shucked, that does not mean that the music is
lacking. The score of Shucked is packed full of showstoppers, with amazing performances by the
cast. Stand-outs to me include Maya Lagerstam as Storyteller 1 and Miki Abraham as Lulu, the
best friend and cousin of our leading character, Maizy. Abraham’s impressive pipes were on full
display in the song “Independently Owned”, with an impressive range and riffs that wowed.

Shucked is a musical best enjoyed by those looking for a jolly good time with goodlaughs and a heartwarming story. The pun-filled nature of the show does mean that the stakes
never feel very high, making it a low-pressure and very accessible musical. Those seeking gut-
wrenching songs and tear-jerking storylines will be disappointed, so come ready to laugh and
groan along with your fellow audience members.

Shucked plays at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis through January 11th. Tickets are priced
$47 – $209, with student/educator rush available for every performance. Also available at all
performances is industry rush, requiring proof of industry work. Actors and other industry
professionals can print out their resume and head to the Orpheum for $40 tickets!

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Boo Segersin

Boo Segersin (Assistant Editor for Theatre) is a professional music- and theatremaker in the Twin Cities.