NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE’S cast for the recent production of “The Shark Is Broken” featured, from left, Josh Tyson as Roy Scheider, Timothy W. Hull as Robert Shaw and Jonathan Randell Silver as Richard Dreyfuss. (Paul Lyden Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
BEVERLY — June 20, 1975 will mark the 50th anniversary of the release of the iconic summer blockbuster film “Jaws,” which prompted people to “never go in the water again.”
While “Jaws” has become one of Hollywood’s most famous and beloved films, bringing the movie to life was not an easy task for actors Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss 51 years ago.
North Shore Music Theatre recently presented the play “The Shark Is Broken” that told the story about filming “Jaws” and the frustration Shaw, Scheider and Dreyfruss endured throughout the film’s difficult production. In addition to dealing with Martha’s Vineyard’s unpredictable spring weather, the three actors repeatedly became frustrated when the film’s three mechanical sharks, affectionately named Bruce in honor of director Steven Spielberg’s attorney, repeatedly broke down due to the Atlantic Ocean’s salt water.
Shaw’s son, Ian, wrote “The Shark Is Broken” with Joseph Nixon.
“In 2017, I read a drinking diary my father kept, which I found painful and very brave,” Ian Shaw wrote in the Playbill. “I had a mustache for another role I was playing. Suddenly, I realized I looked like Quint. We were the same age, so I sketched out some ideas for a play. I shoved it in a drawer, thinking it was too crazy to actually do. Many years ago, I read Carl Gottlieb’s wonderful book, ‘The Jaws Log,’ and it occurred to me that there was an interesting story behind the scenes of one of cinema’s most legendary movies. I mentioned it to two of my friends, David Mounfield and Duncan Henderson, who thought the idea was good enough for them to co-produce at the Edinburgh Festival. Then I spoke to a writer friend, Joseph Nixon, who thought it had legs and could be something a lot of people wound find entertaining. I always loved the film; it feels burned into my DNA. And who doesn’t like a peak into a private world? So we wrote it together.”
Ian Shaw stated that “The Shark Is Broken” is dedicated to his late father along with the late Mounfield and Nixon’s late father, Michael.
“Thank you to them for all the love and laughter they gave us,” Ian Shaw wrote.
North Shore Music Theatre’s production of “The Shark Is Broken” featured Timothy W. Hull starring as Robert Shaw, Jonathan Randell Silver portraying Dreyfuss and Josh Tyson starring as Scheider. NSMT’s production of the play marked the first time Ian Shaw has not played his father in “The Shark Is Broken.”
“The Shark Is Broken” takes place on The Orca, the shark-hunting vessel that Robert Shaw’s Quint, Scheider’s Amity Island Police Chief Martin Brody and Dreyfuss’ marine biologist Matt Hooper used to hunt the 25-five-foot great white shark in “Jaws.” Over the course of the 95-minute play, the three actors repeatedly express frustration about the three mechanical sharks breaking down due to the Atlantic Ocean’s salt water.
“We have angered Neptune,” said Shaw.
Dreyfuss was also frustrated by the film’s production delays.
“You know, they can put a man on the moon, but they can’t make a mechanical fish that floats,” said Dreyfuss.
While patiently waiting for the production crew to fix Bruce, the three actors talk about their respective careers, read “The New York Times” and discussed world events, including former President Richard Nixon and the Vietnam War.
“There will never be a more immoral president than Tricky Dicky,” said Scheider, which prompted the audience to start laughing.
Similar to their characters of Quint, Brody and Hooper, the three actors bond, argue, drink and gamble while waiting for the cameras to start rolling.
“Fellas, if we really are going to be here for the rest of our lives, let’s try and make the best of it,” said Scheider.
The three actors also eagerly anticipate the production of “Jaws” to end, all while failing to realize that they were making one of the most iconic films in Hollywood history.
“Do you think they’ll make a sequel?” Dreyfuss asked.
“To what?” inquired Shaw.
“To this,” said Dreyfuss.
“I hope not,” said Shaw. “Do you really think anyone’s going to be talking about this in 50 years?”
The audience repeatedly laughed throughout “The Shark Is Broken” performance.
“Steven was telling me about a movie idea he has got. Yeah about UFOs,” said Dreyfuss in reference to Spielberg’s 1977 film “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
Shaw wasn’t impressed.
“Aliens? Jesus whatever next? Dinosaurs?” retorted Shaw.
Additionally, “The Shark Is Broken” depicts Shaw’s frustration with the script’s original lines for his famous USS Indianapolis monologue, where Quint recounts surviving the sinking of the U.S. Navy’s Portland-class heavy destroyer by torpedoes from an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine on July 30, 1945 and waiting to be rescued from the shark-invested waters.
“For God’s sake, I can’t say this,” said Shaw. “It’s duller than my tax returns.”
The play ends with Shaw reciting the revised lines he wrote for the “Jaws” monologue.
“I’ll never put on a life jacket again,” said Shaw.
“The Shark Is Broken” received a standing ovation from North Shore Music Theatre attendees, many of whom wore “Jaws” and Martha’s Vineyard attire in celebration of the play and the film’s 50th anniversary.
North Shore Music Theatre General Manager Karen Nascembeni explained how “The Shark Is Broken” was brought to NSMT in an interview with the Villager.
“Besides the fact that North Shore Music Theatre Owner/Producer Bill Hanney loved the film ‘Jaws,’ the primary reason he invested in ‘The Shark Is Broken’ as a co-producer on Broadway was so that he would have the opportunity to be the first to bring the show to New England, and most importantly, to Martha’s Vineyard, where the film was made,” said Nascembeni. “We were thrilled to rehearse and present the show here at North Shore Music Theatre to sold out audiences with the original Broadway and West End Director, Guy Masterson, at the helm. He set the show here with a brilliant new cast, who will also be featured in the piece when we bring it to Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs with performances starting on July 5. Audiences and reviewers alike loved this show. I can only imagine the crowds of Martha’s Vineyard locals and tourists who will come out to see it on the Vineyard. We are expecting it to do a tremendous amount of business on the island.”
NSMT Corporate and Community Relations Director Kirk Mansfield agreed.
“I was 7-years-old when my brother took me to see ‘Jaws’ in the movie theater during its original release,” said Mansfield. “It traumatized me — and to this day, I still won’t go into the water past my knees. But it remains one of my favorite films, and I know every detail about its production. ‘The Shark Is Broken’ exceeded all my expectations, and I’m truly grateful to be part of the team bringing it to Martha’s Vineyard — my home away from home — for the film’s 50th anniversary.”
Library Trustee Stephanie Slate said she enjoyed watching “The Shark Is Broken” with her husband Richard.
“As avid ‘Jaws’ fans, we thoroughly enjoyed seeing behind the scenes of one of our favorite films,” said Slate. “When you watch a film, you always wonder what was the mood on set. What did they do between takes? Were they at all like their characters? Ian Shaw’s ‘The Shark Is Broken’ provided some insight on what happened between takes on the set of ‘Jaws.’ The three actors undoubtedly had the actors they were portraying down so much that I thought I was watching Shaw, Dreyfuss and Scheider on stage! What I enjoyed the most was seeing the making of Robert Shaw’s famous Indianapolis monologue — how he hated the original script and wanted to write his own, how he was drunk more often than not — and of course, that perfect take that gives Quint the reason behind his madness. I’m so glad NSMT brought this play to life, especially on the 50th anniversary of ‘Jaws’ this summer.”
Lynnfield Media Studios Executive Director Eric Hamlin, who has a number of “Jaws” posters and memorabilia on display at the Al Merritt Media and Cultural Center, took his family to see the play on Mother’s Day.
“As an avid ‘Jaws’ fan, I was chomping at the bit to see ‘The Shark Is Broken’ at the North Shore Music Theatre,” said Hamlin. “It did not disappoint! As with all the NSMT productions, the attention to detail both in the set and the character representation was spectacular. There were plenty of nods to the film for the hardcore fans along with relevant jabs at the current unsettled state of the country. The acting was amazing by all three actors, especially Jonathan Randell Silver’s take on Hooper. Brilliant! This production was thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end. Bravo!”