JAWS inspired play 'The Shark Is Broken' makes splash with first Broadway show
You're gonna need a bigger standing ovation as the Broadway debut of The Shark Is Broken wowed JAWS and theater fans alike as it surfaced at the Golden Theater.
The show, in the first of its preview performances before its 16 week limited run from August 10, sees the Olivier-nominated comedy transfer from successful swims in both London's West End and Toronto.
Co-written by Ian Shaw, son of JAWS legend Robert Shaw - who played Quint in the Oscar-winning classic - alongside Joseph Nixon, and Shaw also shines bringing those words to life on stage as his late dad.
Joining him are two-time Tony award nominee Alex Brightman as Richard Dreyfuss and Colin Donnell as Roy Scheider, with Guy Masterson captain of this sensational show.
Image by Matthew Murphy
One of those sat looking at a cutaway of the Orca and having waves of excitement splash over them was Paulie Christine. who’d already encountered Ian Shaw and the cast waiting for tickets in line, even having the actor hold an NYC Jaws licence plate.
Image by Paulie Christine
He gave The Daily Jaws this insight into that all important first night preview experience, which was a complete sell out and had the audience taking to their (20…25) feet by the time it came to curtain.
Paulie, a lifelong JAWS fan, said: “Opening night. Finally, the anticipation is over! The lights went down and Colin Donnell (Roy Scheider) and Alex Brightman (Richard Dreyfuss) start the show; Brightman embodies the personality of Dreyfuss impeccably and Donnell is the rock of the show.
Image by Paulie Christine
“When Ian Shaw (Robert Shaw) enters there is an uproar of applause… and he is truly the spirit of his father; the accent and characteristics are spot on.
“The feud between Shaw and Dreyfuss is the comedy of the show, with Dreyfuss thinking he’s the new hot shot actor and Shaw knocking him down a few pegs to his amusement. It’s a great inside peek at what it might have been with these three men trapped on a floating boat for hours on end and a few lines from the movie are thrown in certain places.
“The Indianapolis speech is truly the poignant part of the show, the 90 minutes goes in a blink of a black eye, like a doll’s eye.
“After the show, Ian Shaw came out to sign autographs. He was very nice and remembered me from the box office opening and the license plate, and it was nice to take a picture of him holding the Jaws clapperboard.
“For me, this Jawsome show gets 5/5 yellow barrels.”
Image by Paulie Christine
Words by Paulie Christine and Dean Newman
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