Play about making of "Jaws" THE SHARK IS BROKEN by Ian Shaw (son of Robert) to open on Broadway - Page 2

[Jordan Catalano]

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

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

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/25/23 at 1:52pm

Also of note, it is co-written by Ian Shaw AND Joseph Nixon.  Shaw didn’t write this all himself. 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 9:13am

Alex Brightman cast as Richard Dreyfuss, Colin Donnell as Roy Scheider

[Alex M]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 9:41am

i was already excited for this but now im REALLY excited!

[Owen22]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 9:42am

This is not a good play. At least what I saw in the West End wasn't.  Certainly wasn't the worst thing I've ever seen, but it tries to meld the actors characterizations with the character roles they played in the film. Which could have been interesting if it there was better writing. It was written by Robert Shaw's son who is playing Robert Shaw (there is a stark resemblance). I didn't like ANY of the actors (including Shaw), but with these two it might improve the play somewhat.  Somewhat.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 9:46am

Alex Brightman play a role that was not originated by an extremely famous man on screen challenge!

Should be an easy ticket to get on the Papering sites or TDF.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 10:49am

Well, only sort of ...the ROLE is famous and so is the actor and his mannerisms. 

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 2:38pm

To anyone who has seen this - what’s the appropriate running time?

[Robbie516]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 2:41pm

I honestly think this could be a big sleeper…Brightman is great at comedy 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 2:47pm

OuttaTowner said: "To anyone who has seen this - what’s the appropriate running time?"

The website lists a 90-minute runtime, no intermission. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 2:48pm

Robbie516 said: "I honestly think this could be a big sleeper…Brightman is great at comedy"

 

Too bad it's not a comedy then.

 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 3:13pm

A lot of weird statements in this thread.

This was very entertaining when I saw it in the West End and based on how much my audience laughed it would certainly be considered more of a comedy than a drama. Also for those saying it is a bad play, while it is somewhat thin in terms of plot it got numerous FIVE and FOUR star reviews during its west-end run and recouped it's investment, also I find it hard to believe with her track record that Sonia Friedman would lead produce anything that wasn't worth checking out.

Looking at some random dates it seems to be selling ok and as one of the few plays that will be on Broadway during the summer as someone else said it could be a sleeper hit? 

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 3:41pm

To be honest, as someone who didn't like the show when I saw it in Toronto, I will say that its not a comedy in a laugh a minute sense. It's a play with jokes. Not something serious, but its not a "comedy" in the traditional sense of the word. 

I will say that while the timeline takes place during the filming of Jaws, a lot of the Jaws relatied things come to set up time, create conflict, etc. To me, it could have been about numerous films, and Shaw, Dreyfuss, and Scheider are merely stand ins for a 90 minute conversation on what is it to be an actor, father, and human being. 

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Posted: 7/19/23 at 10:48pm

Attending matinee in October during my NYC visit.  Discounted seat, left orchestra, row N, aisle, $104.  Remember the "Summer of Jaws" very well and look forward to the actors that have been cast. Ian Shaw looks so much like his dad in the promotional mailer I received.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/19/23 at 11:11pm

This has been  high on my list to see since I read about it opening in London.

Updated On: 7/19/23 at 11:11 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/20/23 at 4:53am

JSquared2 said: "Robbie516 said: "I honestly think this could be a big sleeper…Brightman is great at comedy"



Too bad it's not a comedy then.

"

Too bad you don't know what you're talking about, then. Their promotional mailer seems to think so, 1/2 their pull quotes mention it: "Funny, quirky and poignant" - The Times; "Hilariously brilliant..." - Sunday Express.

I tried to include a pix, but the site won't let me.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/20/23 at 9:38am

[Tag]

Posted: 7/20/23 at 10:32am

It's really not a comedy though. Or a drama. It's kind of nothing.  Sure there are scattered jokes, some of which land well.  But if you are expecting a night of laugh-out-loud funny, this isn't it.

Also notice all their pull quotes are from the British press, and nothing from Toronto. This show has a British sensibility and quietness about it.  Something that didn't land in Toronto.

Updated On: 7/20/23 at 10:32 AM

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/20/23 at 10:46am

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "This was very entertaining when I saw it in the West End and based on how much my audience laughed it would certainly be considered more of a comedy than a drama. Also for those saying it is a bad play, while it is somewhat thin in terms of plot it got numerous FIVE and FOUR star reviews during its west-end run and recouped it's investment, also I find it hard to believe with her track record that Sonia Friedman would lead produce anything that wasn't worth checking out."

I learned a long time ago that most of the British theatre critics generally don't know what they're talking about. And when they do they have bad taste...or should I say, tasted that doesn't align with what is generally thought of as good theatre...

[A.J.]

Posted: 7/20/23 at 11:22am

Tag said: "It's really not a comedy though. Or a drama. It's kind of nothing. Sure there are scattered jokes, some of which land well. But if you are expecting a night of laugh-out-loud funny, this isn't it.

Also notice all their pull quotes are from the British press, and nothing from Toronto. This show has a British sensibility and quietness about it. Something that didn't land in Toronto."

I think there’s going to be a lot of disappointment when audiences realize that this isn’t a look behind the scenes at the making of Jaws, but a character study/memorial piece for Ian Shaw’s father. 

The set of Jaws serves as the location, not the plot.

 

 

[schubox]

Posted: 7/20/23 at 12:59pm

A.J. said: "Tag said: "It's really not a comedy though. Or a drama. It's kind of nothing. Sure there are scattered jokes, some of which land well. But if you are expecting a night of laugh-out-loud funny, this isn't it.

Also notice all their pull quotes are from the British press, and nothing from Toronto. This show has a British sensibility and quietness about it. Something that didn't land in Toronto."

I think there’s going to be a lot of disappointment when audiences realize that this isn’t a look behind the scenes at the making of Jaws, but a character study/memorial piece for Ian Shaw’s father.

The set of Jaws serves as the location, not the plot.



"

 

For sure, not knowing anything about this other than the name and the cast, I assumed it was about Jaws, at least a lot more than it sounds like it is

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/20/23 at 1:03pm

From a few friends, they assumed it was a full-scale play with scene/set changes and actors playing Spielberg, Lorraine Gary, etc, along with the iconic trio. They were unaware the entire play takes place on one single set with just the 3 actors and mostly sitting around the interior cabin table.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 7/20/23 at 1:14pm

dramamama611 said: "JSquared2 said: "Robbie516 said: "I honestly think this could be a big sleeper…Brightman is great at comedy"



Too bad it's not a comedy then.

"

Too bad you don't know what you're talking about, then. Their promotional mailer seems to think so, 1/2 their pull quotes mention it: "Funny, quirky and poignant" - The Times; "Hilariously brilliant..." - Sunday Express.

 

Sorry dear, but I'm afraid it is you who's clueless about the play -- and if you're relying solely on what you saw on a "promo mailer", then I'd suggest to do a bit more digging first.  Cheers!

 

 

 

[Tom5]

Posted: 7/21/23 at 7:49am

As a previous poster mentioned there was another play named 'Bruce' which seemed to have the identical story. I looked it up as best I could and it seemed  really good despite what the reported critics reviews and the character who played Steven Spielberg was his spitting image. If I was in Seattle at the time Iwould definitely have seen it. Will there at least be a three-way lawsuit going on soon?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/21/23 at 8:30am

JSquared2 said: "dramamama611 said: "JSquared2 said: "Robbie516 said: "I honestly think this could be a big sleeper…Brightman is great at comedy"



Too bad it's not a comedy then.

"

Too bad you don't know what you're talking about, then. Their promotional mailer seems to think so, 1/2 their pull quotes mention it: "Funny, quirky and poignant" - The Times; "Hilariously brilliant..." - Sunday Express.



Sorry dear, but I'm afraid it is you who's clueless about the play -- and if you're relying solely on what you saw on a "promo mailer", then I'd suggest to do a bit more digging first. Cheers!



I'm sorry, are you really trying to be catty to someone who is just explaining how the show is being advertised like it is their fault? How petty.