'Shucked' review: Cornpone Musical is the surprise delight of the Broadway season

Some Broadway wags might have scoffed at the idea of ​​a cornpone musical and its small promotions. But with its exuberance, heart and non-stop yucks, "Shucked" is the surprise treat of the season.

Less stars and featuring a new Broadway songwriting team and an original book, this old production is a throwback to the joys of light musical comedy: where new talent is discovered, the songs are catchy, the jokes are plentiful, and the characters are engaging, fun, and sweetly simple. Yet, as one character on the show puts it, "There's a cornfield between simple and stupid. It's a simple mistake stupid people make."

Well, never underestimate the power of stupid.

Start with the plot presented by two likeable storytellers (Grey Henson, Tony nominated for "Mean Girls" and Ashley D, Kelley) who set the show's playful and deliberately corny tone from the start.

They present a "farm to fable" tale about an isolated rural, seemingly self-sufficient community centered on its production and the celebration of all things maize. But when the crops suddenly fail, Maize (Caroline Innerbichler), the town's dynamic girl, decides that sometimes it takes more than a village to survive - it also takes outside help.

Maizy postpones her wedding to her longtime beau Beau (Andrew Durand) and ventures into the big city Tampa – where she meets Gordon (John Behlmann), a fake podiatrist who is more of a con man than a corn man. When he discovers that the town of Maizy may be sitting on valuable mineral deposits, he returns with her to the town to ostensibly save the harvest with his so-called expert corn know-how - but really to sweep the rocks. Feeling Gordon's bad boy vibe — and kinda liking it — is Maizy's libidinous cousin, Lulu (Alex Newell, a force of nature who brings down the house with "Independently Owned"). There's also Beau's brother Peanut (Kevin Cahoon, hysterical in his bizarre statements) and silly grandpa (Dwane Clark). Even ensemble performers have their comedic moments in their multiple parts.

'Shucked' started ten years ago as a stage version of the sketch TV series hayseed "Hee-Haw", but the show has now been completely revamped as a smart-and-dumb musical by veteran comedy writer Robert Horn (Tony for "Tootsie", TV's "Designing Women") Horn's fantastical narrative is pretty thin but filled with characters to care about, then he makes them spout silly similes, twisted metaphors, and non-ironic/pro-Moronic jokes that make the audience roll their eyes - and love it.

Production is solidly bolstered by stage vet Jack O'Brien, who sets the tone and brings polish, as well as an infectious spirit of joy, warmth and discovery, just like he did for "Hairspray" and "The Full Monty".

Country music writing team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally make smooth transition to the stage with songs that perfectly elevate the emotional moments, delivering earworm melodies and value-priced theatrical moments that the talented cast plays to the end.

Innerbichler brings an appealing presence and a bugle voice that can ring as well as belt, whether the ballad "Walls" or the hymn "Woman of the World". She's paired perfectly with the slightly awkward and very handsome Durant, who brings rock star chops in "Somebody Will", sweet vulnerability in "I'll Be OK" and comedic quirks throughout. Behlmann has a trickier game of balance playing the less-than-brilliant crook and succeeds with loose physicality, inherent likability, and an off-center comedic sensibility that disarms, even when it doesn't make sense.

But everything in the show is slightly angled here, including the large wooden barn of a set by Scott Pask, lit to maximum effect by Japhy Weideman. Choreographer Sarah O'Gleby adds to the sense of eccentricity with the corn dance...