Drew McOnie’s inaugural season gets off to a triumphant start with the opening production of this summer season. There’s something delightfully audacious about staging a Broadway-born, corn-fed musical comedy in the leafy heart of London’s Regent’s Park. But Shucked, making its UK premiere under the open skies, proves to be a golden ear of theatrical joy—sweet, surprising, and utterly satisfying.
Directed with a deft hand by Tony Award-winner Jack O’Brien, Shucked is a musical that knows exactly what it is: a pun-laden, heart-on-its-sleeve celebration of community, identity, and, yes, corn. With a book by Robert Horn (of Tootsie fame) and a toe-tapping score by country music powerhouses Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, this production brings a distinctly American flavour to a very British setting—and it works a treat.
The story centres on Maizy (Sophie McShera), a spirited young woman from the fictional Cob County, whose impending nuptials to the affable Beau (Ben Joyce) are thrown into disarray when the town’s corn crop mysteriously begins to die. Determined to save her community, Maizy ventures beyond the county lines, unwittingly inviting a slick conman, Gordy (Matthew Seadon-Young), into their midst. What follows is a riotous blend of romance, deception, and small-town resilience.
McShera is a revelation as Maizy, bringing warmth, wit, and vocal prowess to a role that demands both comedic timing and emotional depth. Joyce’s Beau is charmingly earnest, while Seadon-Young’s Gordy oozes charisma with just the right amount of smarm. Georgina Onuorah as Lulu delivers a powerhouse performance, particularly in the show-stopping “Independently Owned,” which rightly earns one of the night’s biggest ovations.
All of the songs are pleasant on the ear, with most having some kind of comedy twist, but there are a couple that tug on the heartstrings too. In Beau’s big solo number, “Somebody Will”, Ben Joyce holds the audience in the palm of his hand with a flawlessly impressive performance.
The ensemble is uniformly strong, with standout turns from Keith Ramsay’s lovably odd Peanut and the dynamic duo of Monique Ashe-Palmer and Steven Webb as the narrating Storytellers, who keep the action brisk and the laughs flowing.
Scott Pask’s set design cleverly embraces the natural beauty of the Open Air Theatre, blending rustic Americana with whimsical flourishes, and of course corn standing proudly on either side of the stage. Tilly Grimes’ costumes are a patchwork of prairie charm and modern flair, while Sarah O’Gleby’s choreography injects the stage with infectious energy. The musical direction, led by Katy Richardson, ensures Clark and McAnally’s score—equal parts country, pop, and Broadway—is delivered with polish and heart.
American and British humour tends to differ slightly—the concept of pantomime barely exists in the US. Yet Shucked seems to find a universal comedy; a litany of corny jokes pops in all directions. The pace is relentless, almost every line uttered is some form of cliché, wordplay or double entendre—sometimes it’s not even that subtle—and it’s absolutely hilarious. The sound of roaring laughter for two solid hours must have been heard right across Regent’s Park. If the producers haven’t considered publishing a book of all these one-liners, they absolutely should!
What makes Shucked so endearing is its refusal to take itself too seriously. It’s a show that revels in wordplay and absurdity, yet never loses sight of its emotional core. Beneath the corny jokes and humorous asides lies a sincere message about embracing change, challenging tradition, and finding strength in community.
Shucked feels like a breath of fresh air—sunny, silly, and surprisingly moving, it leaves its audience’s spirits as high as an elephant’s eye, and then some. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has once again proven its knack for reimagining musicals in ways that feel both intimate and epic. With such a short run, let’s all hope this gloriously fun musical is blessed with a second harvest.
