"The Shark Is Broken" - by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon - North Shore Music Theatre (Beverly, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through May 11, 2025. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"They can put a man on the moon but they can't make a mechanical fish that floats."
- ("Richard Dreyfuss") / Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon
North Shore Music Theatre
Presents
"THE SHARK IS BROKEN"
Written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon
Directed by Guy Masterson
Cast Includes: Timothy W. Hull* as “Robert Shaw,” Jonathan Randell Silver* as “Richard Dreyfuss,” Josh Tyson* as “Roy Scheider.”
Understudies: Kevin Loreque* (For Robert Shaw and Roy Scheider); Jacob Louchheim* (For Richard Dreyfuss).
Additional Creative Team:
Scenic Design - Duncan Henderson; Costume Design - Rebecca Glick; Lighting Design - Jeff Greenberg; Sound Design and Original Music - Adam Cork; Additional Sound Design - Alex Berg; Scenic Elements Built and Painted - Cigar Box Studios, Inc.; General Manager - Karen Nascembeni; Executive Producer - David Elliott; Associate Producer and Casting Director - Matthew Chappell; Production Stage Manager - Arthur Atkinson*; Assistant Stage Manager - Dakotah Wiley Horan*; Company Manager and Casting Associate Amanda Ostrow-Mason.
* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Performances:
May 2, 2025 through May 11, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
TICKETS:
For tickets and information visit www.nsmt.org, call # 978-232-7200, or visit the North Shore Music Theatre box office in person at 54 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA. 01915
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) kicks off an exciting new season with the fascinating play "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" which is a fun trip down memory lane for those who recall a certain locally-produced film about a killer shark.
"THE SHARK IS BROKEN," written by British playwrights Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, gives audiences a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes making of the 1975 blockbuster movie “JAWS.”
“JAWS,” first a best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, was adapted for the big screen by a then-up-and-coming director named Steven Spielberg.
Back in 1974, Spielberg (not seen in the play but whose voice is occasionally “heard” off stage) made many creative choices that veered away from the Benchley novel.
Spielberg also veered away from conventional filmmaking by choosing not to film on a studio backlot in Hollywood but rather filming on location right here in Massachusetts at Martha’s Vineyard.
Over 67 million people in the U.S. (just under one-third of the country's total population at the time) would see “JAWS” when released in 1975, making it the first true summer "blockbuster" film.
The iconic movie starred the father of "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" co-playwright Ian Shaw, actor Robert Shaw, as well as two film legends Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss.
(Photo: Jonathan Randell Silver as “Richard Dreyfuss” in a scene from "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through May 11, 2025. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
Premiering in 2019 in England, "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" had a limited three-day run before moving to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the month of August that same year.
The original production was directed by Guy Masterson (who directs this latest production, as well) with actor Ian Shaw portraying his father along with Liam Murray Scott as Dreyfuss and Duncan Henderson as Scheider.
The show would receive a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play.
"THE SHARK IS BROKEN" made its North American premiere in Toronto, Ontario in 2022 before moving to Broadway in 2023.
Now the play has docked at the iconic motion picture’s New England film roots with a limited run at NSMT and fans of the blockbuster movie (this reviewer included) couldn’t be happier.
If you have ever seen the behind-the-scenes documentaries made about the movie “JAWS” then much of what is revealed on stage comes with little surprise.
However, the play itself is still enjoyable to watch as it represents the bonding of three men unified by a common enemy – an uncooperative mechanical shark.
That’s right – life imitates art as we observe three actors who, like their characters in the movie, struggle with a malevolent demon, only to ultimately contend with their own respective “inner demons” which become revealed.
(Photo: Timothy W. Hull as “Robert Shaw,” Jonathan Randell Silver as “Richard Dreyfuss” and Josh Tyson as “Roy Scheider” in a scene from "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through May 11, 2025. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
As the approximately 90-minute play begins, we are introduced (or for those of us of a “certain age” RE-introduced) to:
- English actor and writer Robert Shaw (Timothy W. Hull) who, in “JAWS”, portrays “Quint” - a crusty veteran shark hunter and captain of the Orca;
- Young American actor Richard Dreyfuss (Jonathan Randell Silver), who portrays “Matt Hooper,” a marine biologist hired by Martin Brody, and;
- Roy Scheider (Josh Tyson), an American actor who portrays local police chief “Martin Brody.”
The ’74 filming of “JAWS” is well into production, but the movie’s three main actors (Shaw, Dreyfuss and Scheider) find themselves stranded together on a boat, the “Orca,” while the film crew works on the broken mechanical shark used in the film, named “Bruce.”
For the actors, what began as an expected several days of shooting “JAWS” has since turned into many weeks, elevating their respective frustrations, some of which, they take out on each other.
"THE SHARK IS BROKEN" delves into the work relationship of these industrious actors whose collective strain stems from ongoing on-set idleness and off-set arguments.
These moments are alleviated by (booze, games, and) reflections into their respective lives as told in stories while waiting for their next scenes to shoot aboard the “Orca.”
There are many “Easter eggs” in "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" which fans of both the movie "JAWS" and the careers of all three actors will enjoy, along with insight provided into the film’s myriads of problems, not all “shark-related.”
(Photo: Josh Tyson as “Roy Scheider” and Jonathan Randell Silver as “Richard Dreyfuss” in a scene from "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through May 11, 2025. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
How much accuracy there is to the stories as told by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon is speculative, at best - Although, as mentioned, much of the info conveyed might be found supported by the various documentaries made about the film.
The respected veteran and Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss, who saw "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" on Broadway, claimed the play’s representation of him made Dreyfuss look like “a fool.”
That claim might be merited as his character - while certainly not buffoonish - still comes across as self-absorbed, entitled, compulsive, addicted and arrogant.
However, in the authors’ defense, to increase the sense of conflict and provide insight into other personal vulnerabilities, some artistic license may have been required.
The Dreyfuss character is also funny as hell with Jonathan Randell Silver’s portrayal in the NSMT production delivering on many of the show’s lighter moments.
Silver provides an uncanny imprint of a young and ambitious Dreyfuss, but never to the point where the character becomes cartoonish (although the real Mr. Dreyfuss probably reserves the right to still disagree).
Timothy W. Hull does a fine job as veteran actor Shaw who, while filming “JAWS” struggles with a long monologue written for “Quint” and attempts at re-writing it.
Much of Shaw’s penchant for booze and for not suffering fools well (i.e. the aforementioned Mr. Dreyfuss) hinders his artistic process as Hull well conveys.
And yet, what Shaw would eventually produce (based upon the original material written for the movie by Carl Gottlieb), became one of the most memorable monologues ever filmed.
(Photo: Timothy W. Hull as “Robert Shaw,” Jonathan Randell Silver as “Richard Dreyfuss” as Josh Tyson as “Roy Scheider” in a scene from "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through May 11, 2025. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
Josh Tyson is phenomenal as Scheider, serving as a kind of level-headed emotional “bridge.”
As depicted here, Scheider spent much of his downtime on the film either tanning, smoking, reading or most often playing peacekeeper between Dreyfuss and Shaw just so they can all finish filming the movie and move onto their next jobs.
Yet, even while reaching his own breaking points, Scheider, it would seem here, was ever the professional.
How closely art imitates life in the case of Scheider as represented in "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" is again speculative - but it would be nice (at least in regards to his professionalism) to believe that the "former (uhh...future?) captain of the SeaQuest" also maintained a similar work ethic on set.
(Photo: Timothy W. Hull as “Robert Shaw,” Josh Tyson as “Roy Scheider” and Jonathan Randell Silver as “Richard Dreyfuss” in "THE SHARK IS BROKEN" by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through May 11, 2025. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
The NSMT set of the “Orca” is a near-perfect representation of the actual boat which dominated the second half of the Spielberg movie, aided by the actors having to “duck” as they move “below deck.”
"THE SHARK IS BROKEN" remains drydocked at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. until May 11th, 2025, and all ye seafarers and landlubbers alike will have a great time at this superb show.
Coming up next at NSMT will be the Sara Bareilles Broadway musical megahit "WAITRESS" beginning June 3rd and serving up fun times and great tunes until June 15th.
For tickets and information visit www.nsmt.org, call # 978-232-7200, or visit the North Shore Music Theatre box office in person at 54 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA. 01915
Approximately 1 hour, 35 minutes with no intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
"THE SHARK IS BROKEN" dives deep into the tumultuous, murky waters of the making of a major motion picture with testy, feuding costars, unpredictable weather, and a shark prop whose constant breakdowns are looking like an omen for the future of the movie.
In this comedy co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, the short tempers of "JAWS" stars Robert Shaw (father of co-writer Ian), Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider take center stage as they bond, argue, drink, gamble, and pray for an end to the shoot, not knowing it will change their lives forever.
“The script never lets interest lag over the play’s ninety, intermission-less minutes, the tension, humor, depth, silliness and horror coming like waves lapping the boat.” - Associated Press.
“'THE SHARK IS BROKEN' wittily excels not just as a clever time capsule, but as an examination of male bonding and competitiveness, ego, frailty, fame, and filmmaking.” - The Daily Beast.
“Laughs aplenty.” - Entertainment Weekly.
Approximately 1h 35m (no intermission)
CONTENT ADVISORY: Contains strong language, drug and alcohol references. Recommended for teens and adults. We do encourage you to use your judgment based on your own research of the show, your own sensibilities, and a child's age and maturity level.
No children under the age of 4 will be permitted in the theatre including babes in arms.
ABOUT BILL HANNEY'S NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE
Since opening in 1955, NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE (NSMT) has become one of the most attended theatres in New England, with approximately 250,000 patrons annually. With a national and regional reputation for artistic achievement, NSMT has received numerous industry awards including Elliot Norton Awards, IRNE Awards, the Rosetta Le Noire Award from Actors' Equity, and the Moss Hart Award. NSMT produced the World Premiere of "Memphis" in 2003, the show went on to win four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Under the new ownership of Bill Hanney since 2010, NSMT continues to annually produce a musical subscription series and an annual production of "A Christmas Carol" along with celebrity concerts, children's programming and year-round education classes for children and adults.
54 Dunham Road
Beverly, MA. 01915
Phone # 978-232-7200
Fax # 978-232-9999
northshoremusictheatre@nsmt.org
