THE SHARK IS BROKEN Reviews

Any idea what time reviews should start appearing?

Several reviews out, no NYT reviews yet.

NYT:



https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/theater/the-shark-is-broken-review.html

This makes me miss Bruce at Seattle Rep. At least it's about more than JUST Jaws actors being actors talking about acting actor stuff.

Updated On: 8/11/23 at 01:40 AM

I saw this twice in London and was very excited to go again the other night. I 100% recognize I’m the exact target audience for this play - theater lover/film nerd who worships at the altar of Spielberg and has known every word to “Jaws” since I was like 10.

My friend who went with me was bored out of his mind while I’m sitting there fascinated by it, so this is absolutely the definition of a “niche” show. Maybe that’s why they strangely added a scene where Colin Donnell get almost completely naked for a couple minutes. Look, I’m not arguing about it but of all the things to add to THAT show - it’s odd.

I'll never really understand these producers' enthusiasm in transferring this to Broadway, esp in the middle of summer and with no stars. These reviews feel in line with the ones out of London, no?

" Maybe that’s why they strangely added a scene where Colin Donnell get almost completely naked for a couple minutes. Look, I’m not arguing about it but of all the things to add to THAT show - it’s odd."

This scene was worth the price I paid. I thought it was a total waste story-wise, but damn!

"

pmensky said: "Anshel2 said: "
" Maybe that’s why they strangely added a scene where Colin Donnell get almost completely naked for a couple minutes. Look, I’m not arguing about it but of all the things to add to THAT show - it’s odd."

This scene was worth the price I paid. I thought it was a total waste story-wise, but damn!


Patti Murin is a lucky lady!
"

"

They should take a photo of that moment and run it as an ad along with positive quotes from the reviews. They might sell more tickets."

JasonC3 said: "Isherwood in the WSJ is pretty positive. A few excerpts:

"The Shark Is Broken” is not a play for the ages, or even for those who have never seen “Jaws,” but it’s a frisky and continuously amusing diversion—perfect late-summer entertainment if you want to stay away from the ocean."

"Slender though it may be, at a crisp 95 minutes it holds one’s attention in no small part because the actors playing their more famous counterparts are so superb, giving performances that perfectly capture the personas, mannerisms and idiosyncrasies of Shaw, Dreyfuss and Scheider, at least as documented in various books and movies about the making of “Jaws.” Yet none of the actors is indulging in mere comic mimicry. All give fully rounded, nuanced performances that give the play a layer of verisimilitude in its more serious moments, as the movie ac- tors—each at a different stage in his career—turn to self-examination and reveal their doubts and demons."

"

Isherwood pretty much nails it for me. It was, dramaturgically, a resounding "Meh", but watching the three of them take on these legendary and idiosyncratic actors was the treat, especially in the scene where Brightman as Dreyfuss, coked out of his mind, imitates Shaw and Scheider - garnering massive applause.

Brutal reviews. Does this make it until the end of the year?

I’d expect this to be gone by September 1.

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Wick3 said: "Colin Donnell lost a lot of weight and packed some muscle. Wow!"

I went to college with him...he was actually chubby his freshman year, and then lost weight. We all knew he was going to be a star. Super talented guy."

Yup I remember him from Merrily we Roll Along and he looked great back then but now he definitely has less than 10% body fat.

Given how he was recently in Irreverent I thought he would make a great Father Flynn in Doubt.