The cast of THE SHARK IS BROKEN. Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan
Based on Robert Shaw’s diaries, THE SHARK IS BROKEN offers a witty and poignant behind-the-scenes look at the tense, complex relationships between the three JAWS actors.
Any fan of the 1974 film JAWS will know that its production was notoriously difficult. The three central actors did not get along well, and yes, the mechanical shark really was broken for a lot of the time, extending the shoot from two months to a gruelling 159 days.
In THE SHARK IS BROKEN, Ian Shaw’s tight and intense play, the audience gains insight into the complex characters at play, as his father, actor Robert Shaw, shares a boat with Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss. The play presents Shaw as an old-style grandee, Scheider as a dedicated method actor, and Dreyfuss as the ambitious new kid on the block.
Set entirely on the boat, the play follows the three actors as they wait for the right light or the shark to be fixed during the endless shoot. While this setting could feel dull or claustrophobic, the steady pacing ensures it never does. The dialogue is quick and witty, the characterisations of each actor gels nicely, and seamless transitions keep the momentum going.
The cast of THE SHARK IS BROKEN. Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan
All the actors inhabit their roles well. Ian Shaw portrays his father as a world-weary man who turns to alcohol to cope with the absurdity of it all, likening actors to perpetual children. Dan Fredenburgh plays an insular Roy Scheider, as a peacemaker and deep thinker, while Ashley Margolis embodies Richard Dreyfuss as an insecure young actor, desperate for his big break, and determined to prove himself – especially to Robert Shaw, who remains largely unimpressed.
Based on Robert Shaw’s own diaries, discovered by his son years later, the audience is treated to some thoroughly authentic vignettes into the actors’ interactions. As the story unfolds, a tentative camaraderie develops, fuelled by Shaw’s drinking and Dreyfuss’s deep-seated insecurities and well-documented drug habit at the time. The characters are portrayed as complex individuals, with differing takes on life, forced together but not necessarily fond of one another.
The cast of THE SHARK IS BROKEN. Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan
There are laughs and also pathos. One particularly poignant moment is Shaw’s struggle to shoot a scene and the aftermath with Dreyfuss following. The sharp script by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon doesn’t shy away from portraying the actors in both positive and negative lights. While Steven Spielberg remains unseen and unheard, the characters refer to him in less-than-glowing terms. They reminisce about their legendary off-set antics during the evenings and complain about the sheer boredom of Martha’s Vineyard, which hangs over them like a heavy fog.
THE SHARK IS BROKEN is a clever and skillful work, grounded in authentic source material. It never slips into pastiche or sentimentality, and thanks to strong writing and performances, it feels as though the audience is actually eavesdropping on real conversations. Never did get to see the shark, though…
THE SHARK IS BROKEN runs at The Lowry, Salford, until 8 February 2025
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