Corn Pudding & 1940s Camp: My Take on Schmigadoon!

Hey guys! For those of you just joining, my name is Miren. I’m a teenager born and raised in Manhattan who loves Broadway, and here on Encore by Miren I share my unfiltered takes on the latest shows, interview people from the industry (coming super, super soon!!), and give you a look at Broadway from the perspective of an NYC teen.

Next up is my review of Schmigadoon!.

The show follows two doctors (played by Sara Chase and Alex Brightman) who try to repair their struggling relationship by taking a trip to the Catskills. While out walking, they stumble into a mysterious town called Schmigadoon. The whole show is a parody of Brigadoon, but instead of discovering a hidden Scottish village, they find themselves in a town where everyone behaves as if they’re living inside a 1940s Broadway musical.

Background

The show lovingly spoofs classic musicals like Brigadoon, Oklahoma!, and Carousel. There’s a basket auction where men bid on women to get a date, and many of the characters are exaggerated versions of classic Golden Age musical stereotypes, like the charming carnival boy or the overly flirtatious girl inspired by Ado Annie from Oklahoma!.

Before the Show

One thing that’s important to know is that this is a very niche show. You really need a specific kind of theatrical, campy sense of humor to fully appreciate it. It becomes much funnier if you recognize the references, character archetypes, musical styles, and choreography from early Golden Age Broadway.

I haven’t even seen Oklahoma! (which is kind of embarrassing to admit as a theater fan since it’s one of Broadway’s most influential shows… although I honestly don’t think I’d love it anyway). Because of that, I definitely missed some of the references and ended up doing a little Google research beforehand. My Broadway obsession is much more focused on newer musicals than 1940s camp.

Pro Tip: If you want to get the most out of Schmigadoon!, do a little homework before you go. Reading the plot of Brigadoon and learning a few common Golden Age musical tropes will make a lot of the jokes land better.

The Numbers

There were quite a few high-energy musical numbers that I genuinely enjoyed. One of my favorites was the song about corn pudding, which I thought was hilarious. As the couple spends more time in Schmigadoon, they each end up falling for different characters in town, and those storylines led to some of the funniest moments in the show.

I also liked that the show lightly explores feminism by putting a modern, highly educated female doctor into a town with very old-fashioned ideas about gender roles.

That said, not every joke worked for me. Similar to one of my critiques of Real Women Have Curves (which had a strange musical number about menopause), there’s a scene where Melissa helps an unmarried couple give birth and sings a song about genitals. I know it was supposed to be outrageous and funny, but for me it just didn’t land. Instead of making me laugh, it felt awkward and a little silly.

The Cast

I really don’t have any complaints about the cast. Everyone committed fully to the material and gave strong performances. I also don’t think there was one obvious standout because the entire company worked so well together.

The only thing I didn’t love was Melissa’s character. That has nothing to do with the actress, who did a great job. I just found the character a little frustrating and occasionally annoying, which made it harder for me to connect with her.

Overall…

Overall, I thought Schmigadoon! was entertaining, and I’m glad I saw it, but I probably wouldn’t see it again.

One thing I’ve learned about myself is that if I’m truly not enjoying a show, I’ll leave at intermission because I don’t think it’s worth sitting through something I’m not connecting with. Schmigadoon! definitely wasn’t anywhere near that level—it kept me entertained the whole time—but in the end, this style of humor just isn’t really for me.

I also don’t think it should have won Best New Musical. Personally, I think The Lost Boys absolutely deserved that award. But I can also understand why Schmigadoon! has such a devoted fan base. If you’re someone who loves classic Broadway references and theatrical camp, I can definitely see why you’d have a great time.

6/10!