Well, this one is fun! Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally’s new musical, fresh from Broadway, is full of laughs and chipper songs. The story of an isolated community having trouble with its crops juggles sentimentality and cynicism with gusto. Strong performances from a cast that seems to be loving every moment make it easy to enjoy.
The inhabitants of Cob County, who all appear to be related, are great figures of fun. There are lots of country bumpkin jokes and colourful characters (Keith Ramsay is particularly strong). Every kind of gag gets a go – dad jokes, dirty jokes and some awful puns. They’re delivered thick and fast and almost always land.
While giving us plenty to laugh at, the characters have admirable qualities, focusing on loyalty and community, that the show extols. And it feels very contemporary that their suspicion of the outside world might be warranted. Our heroine, Maizy, may not be too bright but she has the courage to travel to the big city – Tampa, Florida – to seek help with the harvest and Sophie McShera makes her character’s mini journey of self-discovery appealing.
Of course, Maizy is conned. By a not very good conman posing as a chiropodist (a great role for Matthew Seadon-Young). And her adventure complicates her love life, too, as she’s left her beau, who is called Beau, behind. But don’t worry – it’ll all work out. And along the way there are strong numbers for Georgina Onuorah and Ben Joyce, who both sound fantastic. Robert Horn’s book for the show is admittedly slim, but it is romantic without being sickly sweet.
The music itself is pastiche, but strong. The silly songs are great and there’s enough heart to make you fall in love with everyone (one of the strongest numbers is about female friendship). And there’s a nice twist with two ‘story tellers’, played by Monique Ashe-Palmer and Steven Webb with fantastic energy. They provide many of knowing glances that help the show and a reassure us that we’re all here for fun. Of course, it’s corny – that joke is set up from the start – but such enthusiasm is delicious.
Until 14 June 2025
Photos by Pamela Raith