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
Posted: 8/11/23 at 9:49pm
I think the reviews are very much in line with the majority here. It might just find enough of an audience to make it to November...but nothing would shock me should it close earlier.
Posted: 8/12/23 at 10:32am
quizking101 said: "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."
That must have changed very recently, because they had been selling into next year.
Posted: 8/12/23 at 12:00pm
TaffyDavenport said: "quizking101 said: "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."
That must have changed very recently, because they had been selling into next year.
"
Was always a limited engagement. Deadline reported this on April 25th:
“Directed by Guy Masterson, The Shark Is Broken will begin a limited 16-week engagement on Tuesday, July 25, at the John Golden Theatre, with an official opening on Thursday, August 10. The Broadway production was announced today by producers Sonia Friedman Productions and Scott Landis.”
Posted: 8/12/23 at 1:04pm
perfectpenguin said: "TaffyDavenport said: "quizking101 said: "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."
That must have changed very recently, because they had been selling into next year.
"
Was always a limited engagement. Deadline reported this on April 25th:
“Directed by Guy Masterson,The Shark Is Brokenwill begin a limited 16-week engagement on Tuesday, July 25, at the John Golden Theatre, with an official opening on Thursday, August 10. The Broadway production was announced today by producers Sonia Friedman Productions and Scott Landis.”"
Weird, TDF Passport has seats through January.
Updated On: 8/12/23 at 01:04 PM
Posted: 8/12/23 at 11:23pm
This was heavily papered tonight, and upstairs was still half empty. The people who were there sounded like they enjoyed it.
Grosses on Tuesday will be telling.
Posted: 8/13/23 at 4:37am
BorisTomashevsky said: "This was heavily papered tonight, and upstairs was still half empty. The people who were there sounded like they enjoyed it.
Grosses on Tuesday will be telling."
How do you know it was heavily papered? I’m not questioning it, just curious. I know for my show in July there were several rows in center mezz and to the size that were empty too.
Posted: 8/13/23 at 3:39pm
Giving as much info while being vague by necessity (haha), I saw them being given out.
Posted: 8/13/23 at 4:51pm
that may have also been press comps, the show is technically still being reviewed
Posted: 8/13/23 at 5:22pm
Press may have also been comped and at the show, but these were definitely not press comps.
Updated On: 8/13/23 at 05:22 PM
Posted: 8/14/23 at 11:23am
I saw this on Friday and I definitely understand why the reviews were middling. It was entertaining enough that I didn't feel like it wasted my time and I hadn't paid a ton for my ticket, but I really don't know that I'd recommend it to anyone in particular because there's just not much to say about it. The three actors are giving fantastic performances, but it all amounts to a bit of nothing, despite how charming it can be to watch them interact.
I'm one of the few people who hadn't seen Jaws, and I think there's enough contextual clues to be able to tell what they're referencing (and I know some of the famous lines), but I do kind of wish I had seen the movie beforehand, as well as known the careers of the actors being portrayed better. It felt like there were a lot of inside jokes, and the play really hinges on the attitudes of each actor towards the other two (I don't know how much of that is rooted in truth and how much is more speculation).
Also, the design is super simple, but I thought it was impressive how the back wall projection actually made it feel a bit like the boat was bobbing whenever someone climbed aboard.
Posted: 8/14/23 at 3:40pm
Has anyone sat to the far sides in the orchestra for this? Won the lottery, curious if any of the set is blocked off if you're too far to one side.
Posted: 8/14/23 at 3:56pm
All of the action takes place between the 2 lines, so, while you might not be able to see the whole boat from every seat in the theatre, the actors should never be outside of anyone's view, regardless of how far over they're seated.
Posted: 8/14/23 at 4:19pm
Thank you!
TaffyDavenport said: "All of the action takes place between the 2 lines, so, while you might not be able to see the whole boat from every seat in the theatre, the actors should never be outside of anyone's view, regardless of how far over they're seated."
Posted: 8/15/23 at 3:52pm
anonanimal1218 said: "Thank you!
TaffyDavenport said: "All of the action takes place between the 2 lines, so, while you might not be able to see the whole boat from every seat in the theatre, the actors should never be outside of anyone's view, regardless of how far over they're seated."
"
Taffy's picture does a good job of showing the stage, and I agree. I was in Orch Right, row O, seat 6 when I saw it. Not the farthest seats but pretty far to the side. I had no issues and the people to the right side didn't say they had any
Posted: 8/17/23 at 3:00pm
Went back yesterday afternoon to see if I missed anything the first time around, and I did feel a stronger dynamic between Shaw and Brightman that read more like Shaw was trying to break down a cocky Dreyfuss to build him back up.
Also, the one thing that stuck in my head is that Colin Donnell’s Roy Scheider sounds like John Mulaney and I couldn’t stop chuckling internally.
Unfortunately, the play itself hasn’t changed and it’s still 90 minutes of being adrift
Posted: 9/6/23 at 8:54pm
How anyone thinks this show isn't a comedy is bewildering.
Saw it tonight on a comp, a pretty thin play that could have dug deeper and more meta elevated by three decent performances, Brightman is far and away the best of the bunch, Colin is weirdly doing like a John Mulaney impression all night.
the orchestra was full but the mezz was nearly empty, it will likely be gone by end of month, shout out to the dude in front of me who took his shoes off and stuck his bare foot into the aisle all night
Posted: 9/6/23 at 10:23pm
BoringBoredBoard40 said: "How anyone thinks this show isn't a comedy is bewildering.
Saw it tonight on a comp, a pretty thin play that could have dug deeper and more meta elevated by three decent performances, Brightman is far and away the best of the bunch, Colin is weirdly doing like a John Mulaney impression all night.
the orchestra was full but the mezz was nearly empty, it will likely be gone by end of month, shout out to the dude in front of me who took his shoes off and stuck his bare foot into the aisle all night"
Nasty. Did he think he was at the Beach. Seriously people like that are disgusting.
Posted: 9/19/23 at 6:21pm
After seeing this on papering services for the last few weeks, finally seeing this tonight - any word on stage door?
Posted: 9/19/23 at 6:24pm
GiantsInTheSky2 said: "After seeing this on papering services for the last few weeks, finally seeing this tonight - any word on stage door?"
Stage Door is only Shaw and Donnell, both sign and take pics. Brightman will pop out to greet the crowd and kindly thanks everyone for coming, and quickly heads out. I remember the first time around when I went, he said that stagedooring “has been ruined for him by past experiences” and he apologized to us when he didn’t need to explain.
Posted: 9/20/23 at 2:10pm
Saw this last week and liked but didn't love it. I was in the third row which I think made me enjoy it more because I was so close and involved. Totally agree Colin sounding like John Mulaney - I got used to it but it really threw me off at first. One thing that kind of confused me was the scene where Colin just sort of stripped and then got angry and slammed the walkie talkie. Sort of felt out fo place to me.
Posted: 10/27/23 at 10:13am
So more was going on behind that fake smile on Dreyfuss’ face::max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(761x271:763x273)/colin-donnell-alex-brightman-richard-dreyfuss-ian-shaw-backstage-the-shark-is-broken-101923-1-1daf5e94b24d4bccbfcd50e91e07872e.jpg)
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/10/jaws-play-the-shark-is-broken-broke-richard-dreyfusss-heart?utm_medium=social&utm_brand=vf&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=twitter&mbid=social_twitter
Posted: 10/27/23 at 11:57am
I mean, to get your feelings hurt in the entertainment industry is pretty business as usual. I think it's slightly strange that he didn't reach out (given he's the only one still alive), but maybe it wasn't about him. This seems to be a tribute co-written by a son to his Father.
Updated On: 10/27/23 at 11:57 AM
Posted: 10/27/23 at 12:15pm
iirc Richard Dreyfuss has has a reputation as being kind of a jerk anyway so his being grumpy comes with the territory.
Posted: 10/27/23 at 3:29pm
I haven't seen The Shark Is Broken, but Richard Dreyfuss has long held a reputation in the industry for being "hard to work with." He's been through this before. That said, I feel bad that he is being publicly ridiculed in this play for things he (allegedly) did almost fifty years ago. I agree that Shaw should have reached out, even if it was simply, "Hey, here's a copy of the script. As you'll see, this play will make you look like a total a**hole. That said, I hope to see you in the audience on opening night!"
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