Plymouth Theatre Review

Easy to Follow: 5/5

Family Friendly: 2/5

Must see: 5/5

Title: The Shark is Broken

Venue: The Lyric at TRP

Date: 31/03/2025

‘The shark is broken’ is a snappy one act comedy drama that threads narrative strands of technical failures of the sharks on the set of Jaws (1975) with the lives of the three leading actors in the film. Each of these characters have their performative exterior masks whittled away, bleeding into raw confessionals of the traumatic past and buried insecurities as Roy, Richard and Robert fall prey to their vices enabled by the stresses of filming. Yet, in moments of stillness, when the laughs cease, they confront both dark and light aspects of the professional relationships. 

The trinity of actors delivered radiant performances informed by the politics of the film industry at the time, yet profoundly grounded in Checkovian realism. Through text, they offered regional, temporal meta-commentary through witty banter and throw-away quips. Comedy cuts through the grit akin to a shark’s fin through waves.

Adam Clifford plays Roy Scheider, the effortless intellectual, as he acts a neutrally buoyant, level-headed force of reason. His personality stands in stark contrast to Robert Shaw. Owen Oldroyd (as Robert) is vivid with the texture in his deliveries. As a former thespian, turned disgruntled alcoholic film actor, Robert exists in two states simultaneously: being affected by the conflict (broken shark) and being the conflict. His massive ego clashes with that of Ashley Margolis’ character, Richard Dreyfuss. Richard, being a arrogant, fame driven personality, wants all the glitz and glamour of stardom without all the strife. He plays in opposition to Richards beliefs of the industry giving birth to one of my favourite bits of dialogue “Fame is a byproduct; the shit of art.”

As tensions rise and fall like the tides, the actors showcase their chemistry through their ability to place laser like focus on the nuances of their delivery. We as an audience see every thought, every intention, and peer into the mind of the character with a clarity that is rare but profound. Their suffocating use of proxemics further supports the confrontational aura of the Orca vessel.

Being confined to a less than sizeable boat, the three men are forced by proxy to confront each others’ and eventually their own faults. By this convention, the set was incredibly effective at conveying this claustrophobic atmosphere with tremendous assistance from both the lighting design and cycloramic projections. With Spielberg’s voice just always off-stage (through prerecorded dialogue) we are wholly immersed, submerged even, into their dynamic interplay of clashing personalities.

In its entirety, ‘The Shark is Broken’ emerges as a poignant exploration of human fragility and artistic resilience. The play deftly balances humour with introspection, revealing the vulnerabilities of its characters while celebrating the raw, unfiltered dynamics of creative collaboration. Through its confined setting and sharp dialogue, it not only pays homage to the legacy of Jaws but also invites audiences to reflect on the complexities of ambition, ego, and camaraderie. A masterful blend of wit and depth, it leaves a lasting impression; much like the iconic film it draws inspiration from.

Review by Bradley Gunness