From “Oklahoma!” we learned that corn stalks reach as high as an elephant’s eye, but in the feel-real-good, maize-centric musical “Shucked,” now at Segerstrom Hall, quirky jokiness stacks up way higher than that.
Skeptical? Here are a few of its countrified non sequiturs.
“When we were kids we would make sand castles with grandma … ’til grandpa started hiding the urn.”
“But like the fast food cashier said, change is never easy.”
“If you get drunk before you get your driver’s license picture taken, you’ll look normal when they pull you over.”
Now if you feel some of the fun in this vehicle just got road killed by those spoilers, not to worry, writer Robert Horn’s cheery, appealing script is jammed with literally dozens more.
It’s not often the case but this time, there’s plenty of comic lines in a musical comedy.
The touring production of “Shucked” is on stage at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through Nov. 23. (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman) The touring production of “Shucked” is on stage at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through Nov. 23. (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman) The touring production of “Shucked” is on stage at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through Nov. 23. (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman) Show Caption1 of 3The touring production of “Shucked” is on stage at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through Nov. 23. (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman) ExpandMatched up to Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally’s somewhat simplistic but highly listenable country-pop score, “Shucked” weds sly intelligence to its overall good-natured down-homeness.
Despite the jokes and puns, the biggest accomplishment could be that the show isn’t so corny at all.
At the (sizable) heart of Horn’s original story is the mythical, cloistered community of Cob County — “somewhere South of North and North of South” — happily subsisting in the center of its single crop existence that stretches as far as the eye can see.
When rot suddenly wilts the cornstalks, a planned marriage is put on hold and the community’s dutiful daughter bravely heads to the citified world (Tampa) and returns with a questionable interloper.
Relationships get re-sorted, corn replenished and has it already been mentioned there is machine-gun laughter rolling in waves through the audience.
Veteran Broadway director Jack O’Brien first saw and fell in love with an early mounting of the show in Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Theater Company.
A three-time Tony winner — for the musical “Hairspray,” the drama “The Coast of Utopia” and a Shakespeare mounting of “Henry IV” — O’Brien’s range of skills likely added the polished alchemy to buff Horn’s fanciful tale. Despite a couple of lesser songs early in the second act, the pace never flags.
Another device that works well is two narrators (Maya Lagerstam and Joe Moeller) who interact throughout, acting as co-tour guides as well as commentors on the tale.
This pair are at their most impactful during a lightning-fast choreographed double phone call skit, where they befuddle the bad guy who has bad cell reception. Later, they cleverly fast-forward a whiskey drinkathon among the male cast.
The touring cast functions as a tight comedy ensemble with some powerhouse voices including Lagerstam, who is on strong display in “Travelin’ Song.”
Miki Abraham as Lulu and Ryan Fitzgerald appear in a scene from “Shucked,” on stage at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts through Nov. 23. (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)Miki Abraham as Lulu the moonshiner belts the show’s feminist anthem “Independently Owned” and owns it entirely. Befuddled boyfriend Beau, Nick Bailey, who straddles tenor into baritone, has a powerhouse instrument and delivers impactfully in the animated “Somebody Will” and later follows up with the plaintive ballad “OK.”
The nonmusical star of the show is the show’s one edible reference other than corn, which is Beau’s brother/town sidekick Peanut.
Mike Nappi makes for a fine Peanut, measuring out one liner after one liner in a reflective and bemused tone.
Mike Nappi as Peanut appears in a scene from “Shucked,” on stage at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts through Nov. 23. (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)After a while in the first act, anytime Peanut began a sentence with his trademark words “I think …” you could almost feel the audience lean in to anticipate what next hee-haw-y bon mot would arrive next.
(Personal candidate for line best leading to a surprise payoff: “Heck, if I had a crystal ball, I’d probably walk real different.”)
While the show has no warhorse production number — the all-male “Best Man Wins” comes closest — Sarah O’Gleby’s choreography is most oddly yet notably on display in an unlikely kick line display of corncobs the cast manipulates like hand puppets in the opening number called, what else?, “Corn.”
Instead of the usual crash-bang upbeat closing number, which basically guarantees a protracted standing ovation and multiple bows for the leads, the show has a quiet ending, then the “Shucked” ensemble come out together, bowo and up come the house lights.
“Shucked” has the wisdom not to overstay its welcome. And it appropriately capped a thoroughly winning and welcoming evening.
‘Shucked’
Rating: 3 1/2 stars (out of 4 possible)
When: Through Sunday, Nov. 23; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa
Tickets: $33-$149.00
Information: 949-556-2787; www.scfta.org
Hence then, the article about review shucked serves up bushels full of laughs at segerstrom center was published today ( ) and is available on The Orange County Register ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Review: ‘Shucked’ serves up bushels full of laughs at Segerstrom Center )
Also on site :