Shucked

About the show

The storytellers discuss the history of the town, Cob County, emphasizing the town's love for corn. They introduce the audience to Maizy and Beau, a couple who are planning their wedding ("Corn"). While Beau's brother, Peanut, is officiating the wedding, the town's corn suddenly begins to die. The town decides that they can't have a wedding until they fix the corn. Maizy talks to her cousin, Lulu, and her grandfather, before discussing the situation with Beau. Maizy tells Beau that she wants to leave the town in order to find solutions, but Beau is against the idea. Maizy explains her reasoning, before booking a plane to Tampa ("Walls"). Maizy is amazed by Tampa, and she finds a podiatrist who calls himself a "corn doctor". Unaware of what that actually means, she decides to meet the doctor, a man named Gordy ("Travelin' Song"). Gordy comes from a family of conmen, but is not great at the job ("Bad"); currently, he is in debt to some members of the mob (played by the storytellers). Gordy notices a bracelet that Maizy is wearing, which he takes to have appraised by the jewelers (also played by the storytellers), who say that the stones are incredibly valuable. Gordy realizes he can use the bracelet to get out of his debt. He tries to charm Maizy, and Maizy kisses him. Although shocked by her eagerness to cheat on Beau, she delights in her ability to save the corn ("Woman of the World"). Maizy takes Gordy back to Cob County, where Beau is angered at her decision to go to Tampa. Maizy retorts that Beau is jealous that she managed to do something about their situation, whereas Beau couldn't even leave the county. As the fight gets increasingly heated, Maizy admits that she kissed Gordy. Beau is shocked and angered, and breaks off his engagement with Maizy, deciding that he's going to find someone who wants him ("Somebody Will"). At Lulu's whiskey distillery, Maizy vents about the situation. Lulu tells her that her mistake was telling Beau that she kissed Gordy. Gordy arrives and tries to sweet-talk Lulu, but Lulu ignores him, relishing her independence as a single person ("Independently Owned"). Gordy receives two calls from the jewelers and the mob. The jewelers tell him the stones weren't as valuable as they thought, while the members of the mob tell Gordy his debt has been cleared due to the mobster being killed by "Murry the Mohel". However, Gordy misunderstands both calls, due to the poor cell service in Cob County. Peanut, Beau, and Lulu overhear the conversations, and go to warn Maizy ("Holy Shit"). However, Maizy remains optimistic and doesn't believe the other three. She and Lulu get into an argument, leading to Maizy saying that Lulu's whiskey is bitter. After they leave, Maizy wonders what love means ("Maybe Love"). Gordy reveals a healthy ear of corn to the town. He tells them that the stones from the bracelet are stopping the corn from growing, and to fix the situation he will remove the stones from the county; he actually intends to keep the stones for himself. The rest of the town takes this as an answer, except for Beau, Lulu, and Peanut. Maizy, still frustrated with Beau and Lulu, and excited by her ability to save the corn, misinterprets Gordy being down on one knee, and agrees to marry him, to the surprise of everyone in Cob County ("Corn (Reprise)"). The storytellers briefly recap the events of Act I. The town goes into a song about how they're Christian, but they drink alcohol ("We Love Jesus") (in the North American tour version, the town goes into a song about the purple rocks ("Ballad of the Rocks")). Peanut and Beau watch the celebration, and Peanut asks Beau if he's doing all right. Beau says he's fine, but admits his heartache after Peanut leaves ("OK"). As Gordy tries to leave Cob County with the stones, he runs into Lulu. Gordy attempts to charm Lulu, again, and Lulu is interested in Gordy's advances. However, she removes the catalytic converter from his car, forcing him to stay in town. Maizy and Gordy both have trouble with the vows for their upcoming wedding. Maizy realizes that the chemistry between her and Beau is still there, and she begins to have second thoughts about the wedding. Lulu and Beau advise Gordy and Maizy, respectively, to pretend that they are the ones they are giving vows to, while the storytellers watch with chagrin ("I Do"). Maizy asks her grandfather for advice about the wedding. Afterwards she speaks with Lulu, and the two make up ("Friends"). Lulu admits that she is interested in Gordy, and the two of them try to come up with a plan to set things right. Meanwhile, Peanut, while attempting to overlook his own romantic interest in Gordy, suggests that Beau, along with the rest of the men, get Gordy drunk, which would force him to admit everything. Storyteller 2 joins in on this song ("Best Man Wins"). The evening before the wedding, the boys easily manage to get Gordy drunk ("Corn Mix"), and he admits his plan. He also admits that the corn ear he showed the town was planted, as he bought it from Whole Foods. However, Gordy says that he wants to do right. Beau and Maizy get back together, and Gordy and Lulu also get together. It is revealed that Storyteller One is Lulu and Gordy's grandchild, while Storyteller Two is Maizy and Beau's grandchild. Beau and Maizy have the wedding that they were hoping for, as Peanut, once again, officiates ("Maybe Love (Reprise)").