{"id":356380,"date":"2026-07-29T16:18:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T16:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/356380\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T16:18:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T16:18:55","slug":"the-shark-is-broken-finds-its-sea-legs-in-coral-gables","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/356380\/","title":{"rendered":"The Shark Is Broken finds its sea legs in Coral Gables"},"content":{"rendered":"

The mechanical shark may have repeatedly broken down during the filming of Steven Spielberg\u2019s 1975 blockbuster \u201cJaws,\u201d but those frustrating delays provide the perfect setup for the behind-the-scenes comedy \u201cThe Shark Is Broken,\u201d now on stage at Actors\u2019 Playhouse.<\/p>\n

Director David Arisco steers three strong performances and spot on technical elements through Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon\u2019s behind-the-scenes comedy. \u201cThe Shark Is Broken\u201d premiered in 2019 and later played London\u2019s West End before moving to Broadway in 2023.<\/p>\n

\"Iain Iain Batchelor as Robert Shaw has a drink while Wesley Slade as Richard Dreyfuss and Adam Poole as Roy Scheider listen aboard the Orca in Actors\u2019 Playhouse\u2019s production of \u201cThe Shark Is Broken.\u201d (Photo by Alberto Romeu) <\/p>\n

The 90-minute play is set entirely aboard the cramped deck of the fishing boat the Orca in the waters off Martha\u2019s Vineyard during the 1974 filming of \u201cJaws.\u201d Ian Shaw, who starred as his father in the English and Broadway productions, draws on Robert Shaw\u2019s journals and the well-documented production delays caused by Bruce, the malfunctioning mechanical shark.<\/p>\n

The actors grumble about shooting on the open ocean, trade stories, debate Shakespeare, art and fame, reveal stories of their past and share insecurities as the delays stretch on. Running throughout is the recurring question: Why didn\u2019t Spielberg simply film in a Hollywood tank instead of battling the unpredictable Atlantic?<\/p>\n

\"Iain Iain Batchelor portrays Robert Shaw in \u201cThe Shark Is Broken\u201d at Actors\u2019 Playhouse. (Photo by Alberto Romeu) <\/p>\n

South Florida\u2019s Iain Batchelor is virtually unrecognizable from his performance in last season\u2019s \u201cThe Girl on the Train.\u201d Sporting long dark hair and a pronounced bald spot, he captures Robert Shaw\u2019s imposing authority, sarcasm, and self-destructive tendencies without resorting to a straight impersonation.<\/p>\n

As Richard Dreyfuss, New York-based actor Wesley Slade wisely avoids mimicking the Oscar-winning actor\u2019s familiar voice and mannerisms. Instead, he embraces the character\u2019s ambition and restless neurotic energy, creating a performance that feels authentic rather than imitative. (The real Dreyfuss has publicly criticized the play\u2019s portrayal, saying Ian Shaw never sought his perspective and that he was unfairly depicted as a fool. In the play, Shaw even tells Dreyfuss he\u2019d be good in a Shakespeare play in the role of a fool.)<\/p>\n

\"Tensions Tensions flare aboard the Orca as Robert Shaw (Iain Batchelor) twists Richard Dreyfuss\u2019 (Wesley Slade) hand while Roy Scheider (Adam Poole) looks on in Actors\u2019 Playhouse\u2019s production of \u201cThe Shark Is Broken.\u201d (Photo by Alberto Romeu) <\/p>\n

Adam Poole rounds out the trio as Roy Scheider, serving as the play\u2019s steady center. The Los Angeles actor captures the easygoing professionalism that often places him between the clashing personalities of Shaw and Dreyfuss. A scene in which he\u2019s preparing to settle in for a tanning session on the boat, meticulously folding each piece of clothing, is impeccably executed. Although the script often limits Scheider to playing mediator, repeatedly urging the other two men to cool their tempers, Poole gives the character warmth and a quiet authority that make him more than simply the referee.<\/p>\n

While the dialogue is often witty and revealing, the script occasionally circles back to the same conflicts. Much of the tension comes from Shaw\u2019s relentless badgering of Dreyfuss, a dynamic that can grow somewhat repetitive as the play progresses.<\/p>\n

Presented in Actors\u2019 Playhouse\u2019s intimate Balcony Theatre, \u201cThe Shark Is Broken\u201d makes smart use of its compact setting.<\/p>\n

\"The The mood aboard the Orca is heightened by projections, lighting and scenic design in Actors\u2019 Playhouse\u2019s production of \u201cThe Shark Is Broken.\u201d (Photo by Alberto Romeu) <\/p>\n

Brandon M. Newton\u2019s scenic design places the actors aboard the Orca, while projections of sometimes tranquil, sometimes churning waters reinforce the feeling of being stuck at sea. Sam Sigler\u2019s props give the Orca the feel of a working fishing boat. A first-aid kit, cooler, fishing net, life jackets and coiled ropes add authenticity, while liquor bottles tucked beneath tables and into hidden nooks become recurring reminders of Shaw\u2019s alcoholism.<\/p>\n

Reidar Sorensen\u2019s sound design completes the illusion. The cries of seagulls, water lapping against the boat, the rumble of engines and the arrival of speedboats ferrying cast and crew give the sense of sharing the actors\u2019 long waits on the open water. Eric Nelson\u2019s lighting subtly marks the passage of time, distinguishing day from night while reflecting changing weather conditions, and preventing the single-set production from feeling visually static.<\/p>\n

Ellis Tillman\u2019s costumes help to convey the character\u2019s personalities. Dreyfuss\u2019 faded Levi\u2019s and denim jacket make it stand out even more that he is younger than the others, while Scheider\u2019s practical boating clothes\u2014including the deck boots he carefully removes before sunbathing \u2014reinforce his methodical nature. Batchelor, in an olive field jacket, weathered work clothes and distinctive mutton-chop sideburns, completes the convincing transformation of Shaw.<\/p>\n

\"Wesley Wesley Slade portrays a young Richard Dreyfuss in \u201cThe Shark Is Broken\u201d at Actors\u2019 Playhouse. (Photo by Alberto Romeu) <\/p>\n

Arisco clearly enjoys productions that rely on sharp dialogue and strong storytelling rather than spectacle. He keeps the action moving at an easy pace, using the cast\u2019s chemistry and the production\u2019s polished technical elements to overcome the script\u2019s minor shortcomings. Even when the play returns to the familiar rhythm of Shaw provoking Dreyfuss and Scheider stepping in to restore peace, the performances keep the interactions engaging.<\/p>\n

Those unfamiliar with \u201cJaws\u201d (yes, there may be some) will find plenty to enjoy from this well-executed and entertaining production because \u201cThe Shark Is Broken\u201d is less a tribute to the film than a comedy about three actors who have no idea they\u2019re making a future classic.<\/p>\n

If you go:<\/p>\n

WHAT: \u201cThe Shark Is Broken\u201d by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon<\/p>\n

WHERE: Actors\u2019 Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, Balcony Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables<\/p>\n

WHEN: 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. Special matinee Wednesday, July 22. Through Sunday, Aug. 9.<\/p>\n

TICKETS: $40, $50, $60, $70, $75, $80 and $95, depending on performance.<\/p>\n

INFORMATION: (305) 444-9293; actorsplayhouse.org<\/a><\/p>\n

ArtburstMiami.com<\/a> is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music and more. Don\u2019t miss a story at www.artburstmiami.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The mechanical shark may have repeatedly broken down during the filming of Steven Spielberg\u2019s 1975 blockbuster \u201cJaws,\u201d but…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":356381,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[225,227,226],"class_list":["post-356380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hialeah","tag-hialeah","tag-hialeah-headlines","tag-hialeah-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/356380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=356380"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/356380\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/356381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=356380"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=356380"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=356380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}