The Shark Is Broken

Once Bitten

The Shark is Broken

by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon

Sonia Friedman and Kenny Wax Productions at the Richmond Theatre, until 22^nd February, then on tour until 17^th May

Review by Denis Valentine

The Shark is Broken takes place in the unique setting on the film-set making Jaws in 1974, where it depicts the day to day life and times of the film’s main three (human) actors (Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw).  The show takes a good look into the human experience and condition from three different perspectives, in a quite surreal situation.  There is plenty of banterous dialogue between all three, but also poignant and reflective moments from all three, which makes for a fun-filled and intriguing ninety minutes witnessing people trying to stay sane and normal in quite a bizarre situation.

Each of the three performances are strong and powerful in their own right, and combine for a very interesting dynamic that really makes those ninety minutes sail by (excuse the pun) at a quick rate.  Ian Shaw, as his father Robert, is excellent and captures his father’s rugged eccentricity in a compelling way that leaves the audience eagerly anticipating whatever he may say next.  After crashing into proceedings in energetic, bombastic fashion he later delivers some of the plays most introspective and poignant moments. 

Ashley Margolis does well with the difficult task of portraying Hollywood stalwart Richard Dreyfuss at the relative start of his career.  He approaches the role as an almost wide-eyed wanderer and, as most in the audience will know what the man went on to achieve, it is interesting to see a person riddled with aspects of doubt and self-discovery at the cusp of their legend growing.

Amongst them, Dan Fredenburgh as Roy Schneider is almost the balancing piece, as a steady presence and reasonable character in an unreasonable situation.  Fredenburgh’s calm and almost at times unbothered delivery really helps infuse the almost surreal setting and characters with a basic real world, every day feeling. 

The dialogue contains moments of little winks and nods to future events.  It is joked amongst the three that Spielberg might even be crazy enough to take on a topic like dinosaurs in a later film, if Nixon will make for a good president and Shaw wondering and being against the idea that his son (again, the man literally on stage speaking the line) will one day become an actor.

The staging is quite simple on the level that it all mainly takes place in the ship’s cabin (or just outside or on it), but with the much wider stage offered by the Richmond Theatre this helps highlight the isolation and idea that the three feel stuck in their endeavour until the shark is fixed and the job can be completed. 

For any fans of Spielberg, Jaws and old(er) school Hollywood the show is a delight, also for anyone looking for an enjoyable theatre trip with fun dialogue, then The Shark Is Broken is highly recommended. 

Denis Valentine, February 2025

Photography by Manuel Harlan