The Shark is Broken

by Ian Shaw, Joseph Nixon

The first summer blockbuster movie is being filmed -- but no one working on the film would know it. Dive 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.

Genres: Plays

62 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2023

About the author

Dr. Ian Shaw (born 1961) is an Egyptologist and Reader in Egyptian archaeology at the University of Liverpool.

His field work was largely focused in el-Amarna, but in recent times, he has done extensive excavations of mining and quarrying sites from many different Ancient Egyptian periods. He primarily focuses his recent work on methods and mechanics of Egyptian craftsmen and laborers. However, he has produced several works regarding ancient Egyptian warfare; a topic that had long been ignored or only briefly commented on by other researchers.

Besides writing original books, he also has edited several "dictionaries" of Ancient Egypt (which might more correctly be labeled "encyclopedias"; they are in no way lexicons).

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shaw, the son of actor Robert, weaves his dad's memoir about the filming of the movie JAWS into a very interesting dramedy, as Shaw and his fellow actors, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider wait interminably for the mechanical shark Bruce to become operational, so they can resume filming. We learn the backstories of each actor, their feelings about their craft, and how they both spar and come together in pursuit of making the blockbuster.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/th...
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/25/th...
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entert...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elDKe...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9S41...

[Ashley Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only saw Jaws for the first time two years ago. I had put it off for years and years because I've always had the irrational fear of a shark in the swimming pool - although in my head it's always a hammerhead, not a great white. Semantics. A shark is a shark, and that meme that makes the rounds online of people watching Jaws while floating in a pool (at night!) was a new level of hell, if you asked me.

But then I saw the movie, and I loved it so much. It was so unexpectedly FUN. And that monologue was INTENSE.

I knew when this play first opened in the West End in 2021 that I wanted to see it. It came to Toronto next, then Broadway (for such a short time!). By the time it was playing in New York, I'd seen Jaws and this play had achieved bucket list status for me.

I just read my script for the first time today.

I'm so proud to be part of the Midwest regional premiere, which will go up at Western Reserve Playhouse in northeast Ohio in March 2025. Excited to work with our director, our cast, and put together an amazing show for everyone who comes to see it.

We're gonna need a bigger boat.

[Bill Dennison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this play. All the Jaws stuff is there but this is also a great piece, in my opinion, about men’s mental health.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The "U.S.S. Indianapolis" scene is one of the most powerful moments in any film I’ve ever seen. Just three guys sitting around bullshitting…until it becomes deadly serious. I almost always hold my breath when this moment begins, because I don’t want to disturb it by even breathing.

I bought the script to the new stage play “The Shark is Broken”, written by Ian Shaw (Robert’s son). It’s a marvelous three-person show, with actors portraying Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw, and the rather fractious relationship they had during the many down times during Jaws filming when Bruce the shark malfunctioned. (Ian played his own dad in both the London and Broadway productions). But, at its heart, it is about Robert Shaw’s intense desire to recraft that monologue into something meaningful and more true to his character. The play’s final scene is the filming of that monologue. The script is powerful and I hope to see a production of it at some point, just to revel in that final scene.

“Anyway…we delivered the bomb!”

[The Shayne-Train · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a Jaws fan AND a theatre nerd I was very interested to read this play, what with the 50's sharkiversary happening this year. And I'm...honestly not sure how I feel about this. It didn't grab me, but many plays I've ready are like that; they're better spoken or on the stage rather than on the page. But hey, if you like (occasionally embarrassingly) self-aware references and neurotic actors arguing about art, then you're gonna need a bigger boat.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shark is Broken is a play about the goings-on between Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider behind the scenes of one my all-time favourite films, Jaws. It’s cowritten and stars Ian Shaw, son of Robert (Quint) himself, from his dad’s memoirs (‘drinking diary’). Shaw was 47 when he played Quint, one year older than I am now, and he was very much the alcoholic - he used to hide bottles of whiskey around the set. The play is poignant and very funny, and if you love Jaws and know it well, it’s an absolute joy. Here’s to swimming with bow-legged women.

[Davin Broadhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this performed at NC Stage Company tonight and it was a wonderful production. I am not surprised I like a theatrical piece about the filming of a famous movie where three actors just talk about being actors and have little niche theatrical and acting references. A great, short play.

[Theodore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great read for Jaws fans but more so for actors.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed out loud many times while reading this play. The men of our play reading group love it. I am with them.
It is full of the F word and won’t appeal to many people. But i like it.