THE SHARK IS BROKEN Reviews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/10/23 at 5:42pm

[Dom P]

Posted: 8/10/23 at 9:02pm

Any idea what time reviews should start appearing?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/10/23 at 9:18pm

The Observer is positive on the three actors, “meh” on the script:

Observer

[Dom P]

Posted: 8/10/23 at 10:20pm

Several reviews out, no NYT reviews yet. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/10/23 at 11:04pm

DTLI Consensus: They’re gonna need a bigger boat, and perhaps a better script as well. 

8 mixed (including the NYT), 3 positive, 2 negative.

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/the-shark-is-broken/

Updated On: 8/11/23 at 11:04 PM

[lapinitsa]

Posted: 8/10/23 at 11:34pm

NYT:

 

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

[msmp]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 1:17am

lapinitsa said: "NYT:



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

"Were it not for its curious meta-story, the play would be little more than a pleasant diversion: 95 minutes of bloodless, toothless, Hollywood-adjacent dramedy."

Oof. Not a total pan from Jesse Green, but that line's gotta smart.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 1:40am

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

[JasonC3]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 8:19am

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."

"It’s not a play of particularly sharp bite, if you will, but it’s both a lively comedy and a surprisingly sensitive exploration of the ever-uneasy psyches of ambitious actors, battling prickly insecurities while husbanding healthier than normal egos, and surfing the tides of impossible-to-foresee vagaries in a famously vagary-filled profession."

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 9:55am

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. 

 

[betyourass]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 10:46am

Couldn't agree more with Jordan. I am totally the target and LOVED the play. The audience at the preview I went to also ate it up and didn't look like a traditional matinee crowd. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 10:48am

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?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 10:51am

For some reason, I thought it got pretty great reviews in London - I could be wrong though.
 

I do also agree that this transfer makes no sense to me. Not that I’m complaining, it’s just odd. 

[Anshel2]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 11:17am

" 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]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 11:24am

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!

"

"

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.

[Anshel2]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 11:36am

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."

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 12:19pm

Colin Donnell lost a lot of weight and packed some muscle. Wow!

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 1:20pm

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.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 1:29pm

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.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 2:06pm

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

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 2:13pm

ACL2006 said: "Brutal reviews. Does this make it until the end of the year?"

It's only scheduled as a limited run through November 19th, but I can definitely see this folding well before that, unfortunately. Performances are already being papered, which is never a good sign out of the gate.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 2:57pm

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

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 3:03pm

For all those interested, the review published in the NYT today DOES include a photo of Colin Donnell in his speedos.

Ask and ye shall receive.

[Wick3]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 3:09pm

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.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 8/11/23 at 9:44pm

Saw the show tonight, as someone who is extremely familiar with JAWS, and the actors in it, I enjoyed it. Alex Brightman stole the show, in my opinion, and, yes, it is a comedy (with some dramatic elements).

Updated On: 8/11/23 at 09:44 PM