Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Organization present the National Tour of Shucked

Shucked transports audiences to the fictional Cobb County, where corn is the sole economic driver. When the crop mysteriously dies, the insular town must look outward for a solution. Cue the lovable huckster looking to make a buck, the ingenues torn apart by this corn-y conflict, and a brassy business owner to give the show a classic Broadway send-up. Guiding us through the proceedings is a Greek chorus of sorts: two storytellers who act as delightful audience surrogates, bridging the distance between Philadelphia’s theater-going crowd and the fine folks of Cobb County.

Memorable, fun, and corny (of course)

The score by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally is memorable, upbeat, and undeniably fun. The opening number “Corn” perfectly sets the scene and the tone, aided by the tongue-in-cheek vision of director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Sarah O’Gleby. The high-energy sequence even features tightly synchronized "cornography" using actual ears of corn. The ballad “Walls” serves as a lovely "I Want" song, while a pleasant surprise comes in the form of the villainous introduction (“Bad”) which feels straight out of a mid-2000s David Yazbek score.

Robert Horn’s Tony-winning book is, appropriately, over-the-top corny. The ensemble knows the material so intimately that they time their reactions and pace the rapid-fire dialogue pitch-perfectly. It is a testament to a tour running like a well-oiled machine.

Commitment to chaos

The touring cast brings tremendous talent to Philadelphia. The clear standout is Miki Abraham as Lulu (having previously covered Alex Newell's Tony-winning turn on Broadway). Abraham delivers the hell out of the show’s bona-fide hit, “Independently Owned”, but more importantly, provides a grounded, sexually self-assured presence that anchors the zany proceedings. Which is not to say Abraham isn't hysterical; a singular, perfectly timed facial expression earned my biggest laugh of the night.

The rest of the principal cast leans into the cartoonish fun with total commitment, bouncing off each other with polished ease. As the central couple, Danielle Wade’s plucky Maizy and Nick Bailey’s "aw-shucks" Beau anchor the romance; Wade's comedy lands well even if her vocals are occasionally a bit bland, while Bailey’s “Somebody Will” delivers a thrilling pop-country vocal. Their rustic earnestness is perfectly disrupted by Quinn VanAntwerp’s slick showmanship as the interloping con artist, Gordy. Rounding out the comedic edges are Mike Nappi, who earns consistent laughs with his stream-of-consciousness "I think" monologues, and the charming storyteller duo of Maya Lagerstam and Joe Moeller, who effortlessly wrangle the corn-fed chaos.

A home in the Forrest

In general, the material is well-served by the realities of a national tour. The show benefits from broad performances designed to play to the back of massive roadhouses, though they still feel right at home in the relatively compact Forrest Theatre. Scott Pask’s intentionally scrappy set design travels beautifully, ensuring the rustic charm of Cobb County arrives in Philadelphia fully intact.