The Shark Is Broken is making a big splash in the theatre world and its UK tour has now brought it to Birmingham.
This behind-the-scenes West End and Broadway smash hit comedy about the making of the iconic Steven Spielberg movie Jaws which celebrates its movie’s 50th anniversary this year.
Now a critically acclaimed Olivier award-nominated play in its own right, it is inspired by actor Robert Shaw’s experience playing ‘Quint’ – and played by his son Ian Shaw, who is also co-writer.
The result is a brilliantly funny play which peeks at the choppy waters behind Hollywood’s first blockbuster and imagines what happened on board ‘The Orca’ when the cameras stopped rolling during the filming of the movie.
FADE IN: The open ocean, 1974. Filming is delayed… again. The lead actors – theatre veteran Robert Shaw and young Hollywood hotshots Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider – are crammed into a too-small boat, entirely at the mercy of foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. Alcohol flows, egos collide, and tempers flare on a chaotic voyage that just might lead to cinematic magic… if it doesn’t sink them all.
It is a depiction of how the three, all from very different acting backgrounds, co-exist while dealing with the challenges of an extended shoot, from boredom and drinking, to playing shove ha’penny and crossed words. In fact, the roles and relationships soon mirror those of the characters in the film, with Scheider doing his best to play peace keeper between the domineering Shaw and the ambitious up-and-coming young actor Dreyfuss.
Martha Geelan directs the tour of The Shark Is Broken, based on original direction by Guy Masterson, set and costume design by Duncan Henderson, lighting design by Jon Clark, sound design by Adam Cork, video design by Nina Dunn. Assistant director Molly Stacey, associate sound designer James Melling.
An excellent and endearing 90 minutes of theatre – especially knowing how personal it is to its co-writer. But, in my opinion, it only works for those who have seen – and enjoyed – the film. But surely that must be most of the population!
The Shark Is broken plays at Birmingham Repertory Theatre until Saturday. Tickets available from the box office HERE.
