(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) — In the film, Jaws, the main star was a shark that wasn’t even seen until the movie’s 80th minute. In The Shark is Broken at George Street Playhouse, the main star is a boat that is among the most impressive set designs I’ve ever seen. It not only looks incredible, but moves around and provides the 3D effect that Jaws 3 wishes it had. My first thought was that it’s such a shame that this will likely be taken apart following the run.
The Shark is Broken is billed as a comedy and there are many funny lines, but the play is much more than that. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of Jaws and the troubles they had with the mechanical shark constantly breaking down. It’s also very much a touching coming-of-age story (albeit starting at a greater age than most coming-of-age stories start at) between three actors. Richard Dreyfuss (played by Max Wolkowitz) is the young actor who doubts his ability, Roy Scheider (James Babinsky) is a bit older and had already been nominated for an Academy Award, and then there’s the veteran actor and writer Robert Shaw (Jeffrey M. Bender) whose career dwarfed both of them who serves as the elder statesman.
Together, the three actors spend several weeks on the boat waiting for the time they are called to shoot a scene. They’ll play cards, talk about acting, talk about their fathers, and drink (there’s a lot of drinking) while bonding on a film project that they really don’t understand. Are they making art or pure entertainment? Will it be a hit? Will the damn shark work today?
“They can put a man on the moon, but they can’t make a mechanical fish?” asks Dreyfuss.
I was surprised at just how much this is very much a play about men finding themselves. I’m sure others would disagree, but Dreyfuss is portrayed as a young actor hoping to find fame, yet doubting his scenes each day. He longs to be taken seriously and wishes to work with artists that Shaw has worked with like Harold Pinter. Shaw gives him pointers on how to approach the playwright - of course, giving him the wrong information on purpose! It sort of reminded me of an actor entering college as a freshman and being in a play with a junior and senior - with the upperclassmen playing jokes on the newbie.
Both Dreyfuss and Scheider love to hear Shaw’s tales. He’s had such an illustrious life. At one point Scheider asks him how many children does he have? He replies, “9”. Scheider then says the classic line, “You’re going to need a bigger boat!”
The process of shooting scenes in the boat while waiting for the perfect weather, the right lighting, and, most importantly, moments when the shark is working wears on them. It’s like a hostage situation - they do not know when the shooting will end or if it ever will. You watch them almost enter sea madness at times. Scheider’s character is the one trying to serve as peacemaker. A former boxer, he’s not afraid to get in between the two to stop them when they get out of line. He’s also making the most of his time at sea, sunbathing on the deck whenever he gets the chance. The others wonder about how dark his tan is beginning to look compared to the beginning of the shooting.
Jaws was released in 1975 and the play takes advantage of the actors reading the daily newspapers and following Nixon’s downfall. Scheider notes, “There will never be a president as immoral as Tricky Dick!” to much laughter from the audience.
The Shark is Broken is directed by Peter Flynn and runs until May 18th at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. The actors are terrific, the set design is amazing, and the story behind the making of the film is very interesting. But it’s the stories underneath that the authors (Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon) bring to life that captivated me. This play was very different than I expected, but I loved it. Credit goes to Anne Mundell for set design and Joanna Lynne Staub for sound design. Both are instrumental in the play’s success. Tickets for the remaining performances are available for purchase online.
I think Edgar Herrera (George Street Playhouse’s Executive Director) phrased it well in the program, “At George Street, we chase stories like this: stories that bring us together, make us laugh, and remind us how much we have in common, even when we disagree. Especially when we disagree.”
You don't have to be a fan of the film to enjoy this play, but if you are a fan you'll love the play's ending. It's very well done and ties everything together wonderfully.
PHOTOS BY T. CHARLES ERICKSON
