Play about making of "Jaws" THE SHARK IS BROKEN by Ian Shaw (son of Robert) to open on Broadway

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 8:58am

Previews begin July 25

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:06am

This play is SO. GOOD. And you don’t have to be a fan of the film to enjoy this (but it certainly will help).

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:08am

Very interested to see this!

[Alex M]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:10am

Out of the two Spielberg film associated shows coming this summer, I have to say I am more excited for this one.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:10am

Wasn’t there also an American work about this same subject kicking around? 

[Alex M]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:12am

Kad said: "Wasn’t there also an American work about this same subject kicking around?"

There was a musical named "Bruce" that was in Seattle a few years back. Form what i remember it was pretty much panned by critics. 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:14am

Kad said: "Wasn’t there also an American work about this same subject kicking around?"

There was a musical about the making of Jaws called Bruce that played at Seattle Rep last year, getting acclaim for the actor who played Spielberg but mixed-negative reviews otherwise.

I'd still be interested in seeing it, though.

Updated On: 4/25/23 at 09:14 AM

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:17am

Saw this in Toronto. I didn't care for it. to be honest, I was bored, but glad I was able to see it. I know many people who enjoyed it. Glad to see it some to Broadway though.

I will be interested in who they bring for the other two roles, considering Liam Murray Scott who played Richard Dreyfuss has been with the show since the Edinburgh Fringe premiere. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:20am

Can I ask if this is subject matter that interests you, in general? The play is basically 3 people sitting on a boat talking so if filmmaking/Spielberg/Jaws/etc aren’t something you care much about I can see how it would be “boring” to someone. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:25am

With this, that makes 8 shows opening this summer (if you include El Mago Pop). 

That’s gotta be some kind of record as of late.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:31am

Maybe Lin-Manuel Miranda can play Roy Scheider again like he did in Fosse/Verdon

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:32am

Jordan Catalano said: "Can I ask if this is subject matter that interests you, in general? The play is basically 3 people sitting on a boat talking so if filmmaking/Spielberg/Jaws/etc aren’t something you care much about I can see how it would be “boring” to someone."

Filmmaking, and Spielberg yes. I will say I watched to the film of Jaws shorty after I saw the play, and I did appreciate it more. For me, if you took these 3 guys off the boat/set of Jaws, it could have been any 3 actors lamenting about their life for 90 minutes.

Personally, there is/was something about Ian Shaw playing his father that hit very close to me and my paternal relationship that perhaps took me away from the show. However, like I said, it just wasn't for me. Glad I saw it, and glad Broadway gets to see it. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:36am

Looking forward to seeing it, but this video montage from London feels a liiiiiiiittle corny. Assuming it’s better than this?

https://youtu.be/5TcxiSM53q8

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:47am

As a HUGE Jaws fan, I'm thrilled - but coming to BROADWAY.  It certainly feels more OFF BWAY.   (But I haven't seen it, obv.)

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:47am

FYI, they have heavily-discounted preview pricing through Aug 9, all non-premium seats are $49-109 (plus fees). 

Updated On: 4/25/23 at 09:47 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:51am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Looking forward to seeing it, but this video montage from London feels a liiiiiiiittle corny. Assuming it’s better than this?

https://youtu.be/5TcxiSM53q8"


LOLOL that’s…not a good representation. I mean, all that stuff is in the show but “not like that”. And some of that dialogue, if I remember correctly, is when they’re all drunk. Don’t judge the play on that promo. 

[Scott19]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 9:54am

Jordan Catalano said: "This play is SO. GOOD. And you don’t have to be a fan of the film to enjoy this (but it certainly will help)."

Agree, Jordan. Saw it in the West End and in Toronto. The script has great energy and the performances terrific. And the way Ian Shaw channels his father is quite something. 

And the whole time i kept thinking back to when I was 11 years old, lining up for hours to see Jaws when it first came out. Soooo many summers ago. :)

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 10:01am

Jordan Catalano said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Looking forward to seeing it, but this video montage from London feels a liiiiiiiittle corny. Assuming it’s better than this?
https://youtu.be/5TcxiSM53q8"

LOLOL that’s…not a good representation. I mean, all that stuff is in the show but “not like that”. And some of that dialogue, if I remember correctly, is when they’re all drunk. Don’t judge the play on that promo."


yes I figured that was sort of a “greatest hits of the movie” reel to reach the lowest common denominator of London theatergoer.

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 10:02am

This is a very quick turnaround for the Golden with Prima Facie closing in mid-June. But excited to see this one, wasn’t able to see it in any of its previous iterations!

[lapinitsa]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 10:13am

Another summer opening. Is this the new normal?

[A.J.]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 10:20am

Saw this in Toronto and it was incredibly dull. There’s no plot or story, other than 3 actors sitting on a boat complaining about having to wait to shoot scenes. 
 

Updated On: 4/25/23 at 10:20 AM

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 10:21am

Ouch. Prices after the opening are painful. Though I’m interested to see Shaw, I’ll have to wait for some discounts to pop up. 

[Robbie516]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 10:46am

Assuming there are trying to get names for the other two roles since they inky announced Ian today…most likely if they were bringing back the other two actors who did the roles before they would have just announced it today…

[Lumiere2]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 11:14am

My wife and I saw the play in Toronto last fall - both of us major cinephiles and lovers of intimate drama. I enjoyed it somewhat, but she said this was the worst play she'd ever seen. She asked multiple times if we could leave early. Worse still, the theatre was only at 60% on a Saturday night - and we saw several people walk out early. The guy two seats down from us fell asleep.

Part of the problem was they sold it as a comedy - and it's not that at all. If you go in seriously interested in film history, the profession of acting, and prepared that it's a niche drama, you will likely enjoy the show. In my opinion, this play has a great concept that doesn't really go anywhere, and you should be prepared that a large audience just didn't care for it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 11:32am

I was gonna say - in what world is this a comedy? It absolutely isn’t.