It is 1974. Steven Spielberg is in the process of directing the film based on the novel by Peter Benchley, “Jaws.” It stars Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfus, and Roy Scheider. “The Shark is Broken” is a comedic look at what happened during the filming when the mechanical shark used for the film broke down and the three actors had to wait for its repair. This is that story, written for the stage in 2019, and is now playing at Montgomery Theater in Souderton.
Let me begin by saying that I am probably one of the few people who never saw the movie, “Jaws.” If I did see it when it came out 50 years ago, I don’t remember it. But I knew about it. Everyone knew about it. I decided to watch it the day before seeing “The Shark is Broken,” which was co-written by Joseph Nixon and Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw. I truly enjoyed the movie. I loved the play.
There is a lot of down time when a movie is being made. Actors must stay close to the set for days and even weeks at a time. They have time to share stories, but they also have time to argue, to drink, to bitch about life. They have time to reflect on their careers. They commiserate about the possible failure of the very film they are making as they sit in the cabin of the boat used for the film.
Robert Shaw has difficulty learning the lines about how he was almost killed by sharks during World War II when the S.S. Indianapolis went down under Japanese fire. Dreyfuss is an insecure young man with a big ego, hoping to become a famous actor. There is strong drama in these scenes. But there is also much comedy.
There are a ton of edgy, smart jokes. Referring to the president, who has just resigned- “there will never be an immoral president like Nixon.” Another- “Jews should stay out of the water. Nothing good ever happens… Didn’t Jesus walk on water?… Yeah, and look what happened to him.”
Mostly, though it is the story of three men, who like the characters they portray in the film, come from very different backgrounds and argue with each other as their egos collide, particularly those of Shaw and Dreyfuss. Scheider does his best to cool the guys down and they do play some gambling games to pass the time.
There is so much in this finely written piece. Though we can’t assume any of the conversations between the actors were not fictionalized, we do know that there was a lot of hostility between Shaw and Dreyfuss.
Damon Bonetti (Scheider), Jared Michael Delaney (Shaw), and Adam Howard (Dreyfuss) delivered such powerful performances, it’s hard not to believe that they were just the characters they portrayed. Director Matt Pfeiffer, who has directed tons of theater throughout the Philadelphia region, will find it hard to top this production.
Rush out to Montgomery Theater to see this brilliant show superbly performed. Anyone who has ever seen “Jaws,” even if it is 50 years ago, will love “The Shark is Broken.”.
“The Shark is Broken” by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon at Montgomery Theater, 124 Main Street, Souderton, PA 18964. 215-723-9984 montgomerytheater.org thru June 28, 2026
Philadelphia Theater Reviews by Frank Burd 