Shucked Review (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London)

10 June 2025 I 19:45 I Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Who would have thought that a new musical about corn could be London's summer must-see? With a rip-roaring, side-splitting humour and ambitiously charismatic soundtrack, this infectious staging may not be profound, but audiences are promised a stupendously fun evening!!

Previously staged in traditional theatre spaces, Shucked's UK premiere ingeniously finds a home in Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, beautifully blending the natural themes of the show amongst bird calls and the setting sun. Creatively, the show is able to respond to the challenges of outdoor theatre. From mocking the inability to blackout to Japhy Weideman's dreamy lighting designs, showcasing warm taverns and moonlight seeping through the overhead rafters.

As a highly animated musical comedy, Monique Ashe-Palmer and Steven Webb excel as our Storytellers, delivering 200% flamboyant and chaotic energy that never once falters. Establishing the tone with Corn, we immediately idolise the pair as they immerse themselves into musical numbers. Attending a BSL performance, they engage with the interpreter to enhance humour in their spontaneity, feeding off each individual show and audience.

Robert Horn's book is a theatrical triumph, my cheeks never ceasing to ache from laughter! The jokes barrel themselves in effortlessly, viewers often cheering and applauding from their success, certain they are landing! Considering Shucked is an American transfer, the jokes aren't regionalised, sometimes even enhanced by British colloquialisms.

A prime example of such hysterical fluency comes from Keith Ramsay as Peanut, shuffling onto stage with a perfectly devoid and unbothered expression to amplify his peculiarity. Ramsay's minute attention to mannerisms earn chuckles upon every one of his entrances. These jokes may not overly add to the nonsensical narrative, rather creating a rhythm which is silly and comically engaging.

Once again, I am beyond awestruck by Georgina Onuorah's magnetic stage ability, claiming the performance of the century through Lulu. The earth quakes with her feisty liberal anthem Independently Owned, ascending to musical heaven as Onuorah's staggering vocals own the highlight of the evening. I feared the applause following this number may never have ended! Ben Joyce equally wins the audience's hearts through Beau, taking Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally's punchy score to deliver a passionate and momentous performance!!

Entering the outdoor amphitheatre space, Scott Pask's set design has been altered to the proscenium Broadway stage, with an enormous sloping barn that defies gravity, in an optical illusion of sorts. This embodies Maizy's (Sophie McShera) catastrophic plight, losing her loved ones in a bid to save the corn of Cob County.

It must also be emphasized how brilliant Katy Richardson's musical direction is, capturing a really clarified Western sound, aurally able to transport London viewers into a believable (albeit fictional) country landscape. And the sound quality is divine!!

One of the most successful Broadway transfers in recent history, the Olivier Awards should brace themselves for Shucked!! With direction from Jack O'Brien, this all-new musical is whimsical and overflowing with positivity. A light the world needs, exhibiting the truly healing powers of theatre. Having concluded its run, I couldn't think of a more deserving show to find a home in the heart of the West End.