Ian Waller enjoys this hugely enjoyable retelling of the story behind the classic film Jaws
The Shark is Broken is in town at the Theatre Royal Bath and it is quite simply a faultless, beautifully written and portrayed piece of storytelling that deserves every plaudit it receives.
The play tells the story behind the classic film Jaws, an early piece of Steven Spielberg brilliance that puts its three leads in a decrepit old fishing boat, Orca, as they attempt to kill a giant shark that is terrorising the beaches and seas around an American summertime resort. The original film, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, is a near perfect piece of cinema – wonderfully acted, beautifully filmed and with a story that is so much more than monsters, blood and chewed up teenagers.
OK, I admit it, I’m a huge Jaws fan and while I was too young to be allowed to watch it when it first came out, since then, it’s remains a regular treat, even if my teenage kids think its lame. Still, what do they know…
The Shark is Broken is co-written by Ian Shaw, the son of the one of the film’s three main stars, Robert Shaw, with Ian also playing the part of his dad, alongside Dan Fredenburgh as Roy Scheider and Ashley Margolis as Richard Dreyfuss.
The storyline sees the three actors as the stars on the films’ central setting, the Orca, as they spend their time between scenes, dealing with the endless hours created by the fact that the mechanical shark used for the film – and called Bruce by all involved – is broken and constantly in need of heavy metal TLC.
The result is a depiction of how the three, all from very different acting backgrounds, get on while dealing with the boredom by drinking, sharing newspaper pieces and trying out Shaw’s endless introductions to old school games such as shove halfpenny. In fact, the roles and relationships soon mirror those of the characters in the film, with straight man Scheider keeping the peace between the domineering, old-school Shaw and the young upstart Dreyfuss.
Throughout, the mimicry of the three actors taking on the roles of such well known characters is just superb, none more so that Ian Shaw as his own father. It really is so easy to forget that you’re watching actors taking a part, so realistic are the portrayals – particularly when Shaw retells the famous monologue of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis from the original film.
Along the way there’s a few gems about the history of the film, such as the fact that Charlton Heston was originally considered for Shaw’s part, and Jon Voight for Hooper, which instead went to Dreyfuss. There are also occasional nods to the future, with Brodie reading about Nixon in the papers and suggesting, “There will never be a more immoral president,” while also laughing at the possibility of Jaws sequel (in fact, there were four, including a terrible venture with Michael Caine and a 3D outing with Dennis Quaid!).
Yes, to fully appreciate The Shark Is Broken, you really have to have seen the original film, ideally more than once. If you have, you’ll love this wonderful production that adds so much more to the flesh and bones of the original story.
The Shark Is Broken appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Monday 3rd to Saturday 8th March. To book tickets contact the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit theatreroyal.org.uk
