The Shark Is Broken

The Shark Is Broken at Boise Little Theater

What happens when Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider are stuck bobbing in the Atlantic while a malfunctioning mechanical shark destroys the shooting schedule? You get The Shark Is Broken, the wickedly funny play that takes you behind the scenes of cinema's most troubled production. This isn't the Jaws you remember, it's the disaster that almost prevented it from existing.

Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon's sharp comedy captures three volatile personalities confined to a tiny boat, killing time between takes that never happen. The weather won't cooperate. The shark won't surface. And these three actors are about to lose their minds. What starts as professional frustration explodes into ego clashes, philosophical arguments and the kind of desperate humor that only comes from creative people watching their careers potentially sink. Ian Shaw, the playwright and performer, is Robert Shaw's son, which adds another layer of insight to the portrayal.

Film buffs will devour the insider perspective on how a nightmare shoot became a masterpiece. Comedy lovers will relish watching three distinct personalities combust in close quarters. Curtis Ransom's direction brings this Hollywood pressure cooker to life at Boise Little Theater, where the intimate setting mirrors the actors' claustrophobic reality. Every production obstacle, every personality clash, every moment of absurdity that nearly torpedoed Jaws becomes your evening's entertainment. Performances run January 15 through 30, with a show on January 21 at 7:30 PM.

See ticket options for The Shark Is Broken.