The Shark Is Broken
The untold story behind Jaws delivers plenty of laughs, backstage drama and a fascinating glimpse into the making of one of Hollywood’s greatest blockbusters.
The Shark Is Broken opened at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre on Friday evening, offering plenty of laughs and a wonderfully entertaining behind-the-scenes look at one of Hollywood’s most celebrated films.
The opening night attracted familiar faces, including Australian entertainment favourite Jason Donovan and Neighbours star Rebekah Elmaloglou, who joined guests for an evening of theatre.
More than 50 years after Jaws first terrified cinema audiences, the story of how Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster came to life is almost as entertaining as the film itself.
Set in 1974, during the notoriously troubled filming of Jaws, the comedy takes audiences aboard the Orca, where three actors find themselves waiting, arguing, drinking and questioning whether the film they are making will ever be finished.
Bringing these Hollywood personalities to life are three accomplished Australian actors: Anthony Gooley as Robert Shaw, Robin Goldsworthy as Richard Dreyfuss and Tom Stokes as Roy Scheider.
Gooley is wonderfully entertaining as the outspoken and often cantankerous Robert Shaw, the seasoned British actor who portrayed the unforgettable shark hunter Quint. His commanding presence, sharp delivery and larger-than-life personality provide some of the production’s most amusing moments.
Robin Goldsworthy brings plenty of nervous energy and comic flair to his portrayal of a young Richard Dreyfuss. Ambitious, insecure and desperate to prove himself, Dreyfuss frequently finds himself at odds with the more experienced Shaw. Their exchanges are deliciously entertaining, with egos clashing and tempers occasionally reaching boiling point.
Tom Stokes provides a welcome contrast as Roy Scheider, the comparatively level-headed actor caught between his two feuding co-stars. His understated delivery and dry humour are a delight, particularly as he attempts to navigate the increasingly ridiculous circumstances surrounding the troubled production.
Together, the three actors have terrific chemistry, capturing the frustrations, personalities and absurdity of a film shoot that appeared destined for disaster.
And then, of course, there was Bruce.
Named after Spielberg’s lawyer, Bruce was the infamous mechanical shark that was originally intended to appear far more often throughout the film.
Unfortunately, the expensive mechanical creation often malfunctioned, particularly when exposed to saltwater.
Many moviegoers may not realise that these technical disasters would ultimately become one of the film’s greatest strengths.
As the shark kept breaking down, Spielberg was forced to rethink how to create terror without actually showing the creature.
Ironically, this became one of the most serious accidents in cinematic history.
By keeping the shark largely hidden beneath the water, Spielberg created extraordinary suspense. Audiences imagined what lurked below, often finding the anticipation far more frightening than anything they could actually see.
Combined with John Williams’ now-legendary two-note score, the result was cinematic brilliance.
Released in the American summer of 1975, Jaws became a box-office phenomenon, changing the way Hollywood approached blockbuster filmmaking and leaving generations of beachgoers looking nervously beneath the waves.
But The Shark Is Broken isn’t simply a nostalgic tribute to a great film.
Written by Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw, alongside Joseph Nixon, the play offers a particularly personal insight into the personalities behind the production.
One of the more fascinating revelations concerns Robert Shaw’s drinking during the filming of Jaws, something that occasionally caused problems on an already troubled production.
The story behind his famous monologue about the USS Indianapolis is particularly remarkable.
Shaw had been drinking before filming the scene and became so intoxicated that he was unable to deliver his lines. Spielberg eventually abandoned filming for the day.
In the early hours of the following morning, a worried Shaw telephoned the young director, concerned that he had embarrassed himself and jeopardised the scene.
Spielberg later recalled Shaw asking, “Did I embarrass you?”
Shaw requested another opportunity, promising to return the following morning, ready to film.
And return he did.
Sober and determined, Shaw delivered one of the film’s most extraordinary performances.
Reflecting on that moment decades later, Spielberg simply said, “And he knocked it out of the ballpark.”
It’s a wonderful piece of Hollywood history that adds another layer to The Shark Is Broken, revealing the vulnerabilities of an actor whose performance would become legendary.
The dialogue throughout the production is sharp, the humour wonderfully dry, and the exchanges between the three actors reveal the egos, insecurities and frustrations that can exist behind even the most successful Hollywood productions.
There is something particularly amusing about watching three actors contemplate whether the troubled film they are making will ever amount to anything, knowing, as the audience does, that it will go on to become one of the most successful and influential movies of all time.
Directed by Luke Joslin, the production makes excellent use of its intimate setting. Much of the action unfolds aboard the Orca, with James Browne’s detailed set design transporting audiences back to the unpredictable waters where Hollywood history was being made.
This production’s beauty lies in its simplicity. Three actors, one boat and a mechanical shark that refuses to cooperate. Yet the witty dialogue, character dynamics, and wonderfully absurd circumstances provide plenty of entertainment.
You don’t need to be a devoted Jaws fan to appreciate the humour, although those familiar with the film will undoubtedly enjoy the references and behind-the-scenes revelations.
The Melbourne opening-night audience certainly seemed to enjoy the ride, with plenty of laughter throughout.
More than half a century after Bruce first made audiences afraid to go into the water, it seems the world’s most famous shark still has the ability to entertain.
The Shark Is Broken is a clever, funny and thoroughly enjoyable night at the theatre, proving that sometimes the greatest Hollywood stories happen when the cameras stop rolling.
The Shark Is Broken plays at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre until 8 November 2026.
Please visit https://sharkisbroken.com.au/
Written by Melinda Sullivan
Photography by Parenthesy.
