Tuesday October 4th, 2022

I was one of the lucky ones to  attending the official premiere of the comedy drama  “The Shark Is Broken” (Mirvish) https://www.mirvish.com/shows/the-shark-is-broken   at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre (260 King St W). This was one of the most interesting shows i’ve seen in a long time especially when I wasn’t sure what it was about but had to guess it had something to do with the 1975 blockbuster thriller drama “Jaws”, originally directed by Steven Spielberg.  The plot is very unusual .  It’s about the behind the scenes drama with the films lead actors Robert Shaw(Quint), Roy Scheider(Brody) & Richard Dreyfuss(Hooper) while the movie was being made and during the many times the Shark(named Bruce) would break down.  

It was written by Ian Shaw(the son of Robert Shaw) and Joseph Nixon and directed by Guy Masterson. Ian Shaw plays his father in the show while Demetri Goritsas takes on the roll as Roy Scheider and Liam Murray Scott, Richard Dreyfuss.  It’s just over 90 minutes long (with no intermission) and the whole show is just three actors and the inside of a boat. And may I say it’s brilliant!  It moves very fast for 90 minutes, the actors are perfect for their rolls and the inside stories you learn(including the complicated relationship between Shaw & Dreyfuss) would have you watch the original movie quite differently.  I thoroughly enjoyed this from the beginning to the end.  And before the performance starts, pay attention the the background music.  If your “old school”, you may notice some classic songs being heard from 1975-76.  I give “The Shark Is Broken” (MIRVISH) 4 stars out of 5.

(The Shark Is Broken | interview with the cast and director https://tinyurl.com/yck3pef5  )