Review: Broadway’s ‘Shucked’ a corn-ucopia of comedy that’ll have you smiling from ear to ear

Imagine “Hee Haw” staged in the Catskills.

Picture “Our Town” revamped by Mel Brooks.

Consider what “The Music Man” would be like if the script were tweaked by some sort of Nashville version of The Algonquin Round Table.

Now you have an idea of what the musical comedy “Shucked” is like. (OK, one more: If Jeff Foxworthy and Milton Berle had a Broadway baby … somehow).

Superfans of the Great White Way might be familiar with the show’s plot and the production’s backstory, but most of us are taking our seat with nary a glance at even Wikipedia (don’t, too many major spoilers).

The national tour is playing at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Performing Arts through June 22 and — without giving too much away — we can tell you that the “farm-to-fable” story is set in the mythical Cob County, an isolated Midwestern region cut off from the rest of the world by lots and lots of tall corn.

For reasons no one can figure out, the corn crops begin to wilt and die, setting off panic. Maizy (played by Danielle Wade), an independently minded optimist, thinks she can find a solution outside of her hometown even if her beau — um, named Beau (Jake Odmark) — thinks leaving is a terrible idea.

The national tour cast of 'Shucked,' which is now at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale June 10-22. (Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman/Courtesy) — Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

The national tour cast of “Shucked,” a “farm-to-fable” story set in the mythical Cob County. (Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman/Courtesy)

So she sets off, landing in — of all places — Tampa (no kidding). Geography isn’t really a thing with “Shucked.” Gordy (Quinn VanAntwerp), the “corn doctor” she finds there and brings home, is really a con man, something that raises alarm bells with Maizy’s cousin and corn whiskey distillery-owner Lulu (Miki Abraham).

Now, don’t overthink that plot. “Shucked” cares as much about making some sort of commentary on Middle America xenophobia, global warming woes or even the crop subsidy political debate as it does about … geography. While there is a very “now” factor with the multiracial casting of families, this show doesn’t want to elucidate. It wants to entertain.

And it does that for two hours with a 20-minute intermission with standup comedy patter refigured as stage comedy dialogue. The funny framework is first laid out with two narrators, Storyteller 1 (Maya Lagerstam) and Storyteller 2 (Tyler Joseph Ellis), who play off each other and the rest of the cast like a seasoned improv duo. Supporting character Peanut (Mike Nappi) is something out of an R-rated “Looney Tunes” cartoon.

This is a funny show. Puns aplenty come flying at you like popcorn kernels, and the maize malapropisms will have you all ears (clearly they’re much better at it than we are).

If one joke doesn’t land with you, just wait a few seconds for the next ribald ribbing or one-liner — delivered with the same assured rhythm, like some sort of countrified 1930s screwball comedy.

Maya Lagerstam as Storyteller 1 and Tyler Joseph Ellis as Storyteller 2 in 'Shucked," now at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale June 10-22. (Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman/Courtesy) — Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Maya Lagerstam as Storyteller 1 and Tyler Joseph Ellis as Storyteller 2 in “Shucked.” (Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman/Courtesy)

And remember that shout-out to the TV sketch comedy show “Hee Haw”? Well, the Broadway lore has it that the seeds for “Shucked” came from a never-hit-it-big production titled “Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical” from Robert Horn (Broadway’s “Tootsie” and TV’s “Designing Women”).

Whatever strains show up in this new crop is conjecture, but the “Shucked” music and lyrics from country music singer-songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally are not to be underestimated. Within the laugh-with-every-line and boot-scootin’ tunes are some powerful anthems and rollicking country-rock songs, a little corn oil … a little corn syrup.

Bottom line: Go get “Shucked.”