A new musical has cropped up at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, and I’m all shucked up about it! On paper, a musical comedy about sweetcorn might sound utterly absurd—but that joyful absurdity is exactly what I love about musical theatre. From its toe-tapping songs to its irresistible cast, Shucked is hands down the most fun I’ve had at a musical in London.
Choosing an open-air venue was a stroke of genius—whoever made that call deserves serious corn-gratulations. As birdsong floated through the twilight and the sun dipped behind the trees, Shucked whisked us away to its delightfully husky town, cut off from the outside world. Corn County—yes, they really love corn—uses towering stalks of maize as a literal border. Watching the town spiral into chaos when the corn suddenly dies, then looking up to see stars (and what might have been fireflies) drifting overhead, was one of those rare, pinch-me theatre moments.
The set design, crafted by Scott Pask, struck a perfect balance between rustic charm and Broadway razzle-dazzle. With spinning barrels, neon signs spelling out “Tampa,” and even an animated stalk of corn that rose and fell on cue, the world of Shucked felt lived-in, loving, and larger than life.
Admittedly, the opening quarter was a bit of a slow roast. It took me a few scenes to acclimate to the show’s relentless punning and gleeful farce. But once I settled into its rhythm, the next two hours were pure theatrical joy. The ending, while a little too on-the-nose in delivering its “moral of the story,” was self-aware enough to mock its own corniness, and it worked.
Comedy can be hit or miss in theatre, and I always approach it with a bit of skepticism. But Shucked’s humor? Absolutely off the cob. Genuinely laugh-out-loud lines had me feeling like I’d done a core workout by curtain call. The dad jokes landed, and every appearance of Peanut (a scene-stealing Keith Ramsay) practically broke the fourth wall with laughter.
Musically, the show’s score might not break into the genre’s pantheon, but the performances? Golden. “Somebody Will,” a stirring ballad about heartbreak and healing, transformed Beau (Ben Joyce) from background boyfriend to breakout star. His vocals were jaw-dropping—though I regretted leaving my mouth open outdoors, what with the risk of catching a fly! Meanwhile, Georgina Onuorah’s Lulu brought the house down with “Independently Owned,” a powerhouse number that had the crowd clapping so hard I thought the park might tremble.
The choreography was dynamic and full of flair, especially during “Best Man Wins,” a testosterone-fueled barrel banger that called to mind High School Musical’s “The Boys Are Back.” Masculinity, comedy, even the occasional acrobatic flip—it was a wildly entertaining, full-bodied number.
By the end, Shucked left me with two firm takeaways: first, there are more dirty corn puns than you’d think possible. And second, never judge a musical by its synopsis. What sounded ridiculous on paper turned out to be something golden. With a radiant, endlessly talented cast and a venue plucked straight from a midsummer dream, Shucked is a musical comedy not to be missed.
I’ll be singing its maize for a long time.