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Regional Reviews: Phoenix The Shark Is Broken Also see Gil's reviews of The Cher Show and Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
Co-written by Robert Shaw's son, Ian, and Joseph Nixon, The Shark Is Broken imagines the interactions among Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider during breaks in filming aboard the Orca, the boat in the last half of the movie. Set entirely on the boat over many weeks as the three stars continually wait for filming to resume, the piece follows the trio as they bicker, joke, drink, philosophize, and wrestle with insecurities while waiting for the famously malfunctioning mechanical sharks to cooperate. The script blends historical facts with fictionalized conversations, arguments, and fights, creating a lively portrait of clashing personalities trapped together under stressful circumstances. While Shaw portrays his father in a warm light, his non-stop drinking, high self-praise, and egotistical nature are also on full display, which lets us get a truly fleshed out portrait of his father. One of the play's greatest strengths is how cleverly its themes echo the ones found in Jaws. Just as the film explores masculinity, seniority, fear, and survival under pressure, the play reveals three men struggling with ego, vulnerability, and professional uncertainty. There is also something fascinating in how the actors portrayed here begin to resemble the very characters they play in the movie, blurring the line between famous performer and iconic film role in often amusing ways. It's fun to see how the trio of actors state in the play that they don't think the film will be a success and they even question if people would still remember the movie 50 years later. However, as fun and thematic as the play is, those familiar with Jaws, its stars, and the troubled production history the film faced will certainly get more out of the experience. Audience members without that background should still appreciate the performances and humor, but many references, particularly to such things like the names of the fellow cast and crew members that are peppered throughout or to why the shark was dubbed "Bruce," could lose some impact to those less aware of the film and its troubled production history. The three actors playing these well-known film stars are excellent. Each evokes the dialect, body language, and vocal inflections perfectly. As Robert Shaw, Richard Vines captures the actor's biting wit, theatrical gravitas, and underlying melancholy with remarkable precision. Vines' delivery of Shaw's monologue in Act One about his father is quite good and, in Act Two, his recreation of Shaw's famous scene from the film about how his character survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis is fantastically delivered. As Richard Dreyfuss, Justin Harris is energetic and appropriately neurotic, embodying the younger star's ambition and insecurity. The arguments and fights he has with Vines' Shaw are excellent and he wonderfully delivers Dreyfuss' spiraling panic attack where he ponders if he's actually a bad actor. Garrad Perry's portrayal of Roy Scheider provides an ideal balance between the other two, presenting him as the calm mediator who is grounded and quietly charismatic. Together, the trio creates a believable chemistry that keeps the production consistently entertaining. Laura Vines' direction gets the pacing exactly right, allowing the comedy and introspection to flow naturally. The set design by Bill Griffith is particularly effective, presenting a convincing cutaway section of the Orca that instantly transports audiences into the world of the film. Laura Vines's costumes and GinaKay Howell's hair and make-up designs are uncanny recreations of the actors' onscreen looks, and Jamie Bubon's lighting, Glenn Parker's sound, and Shara Merrill's video projections all work together impressively to create the sensation of these three men being practically stranded at sea while the technicians work to get the mechanical shark operational. The Shark Is Broken is an affectionate, intelligent, and highly enjoyable tribute to the behind-the-scenes chaos that made a cinematic classic. Bolstered by terrific performances and the clever script, Ghostlight Theatre's production offers both nostalgia and insight, making it a rewarding theatrical treat for movie lovers and theatergoers alike. The Shark Is Broken runs through May 17, 2026, at Ghostlight Theatre, 13541 West Camino Del Sol, Sun City West AZ. For ticket information, please visit www.ghostlightaz.com or call 623-777-9717 Director: Laura Vines Cast: |
