PLAYHOUSE ON PARK REVISITS "JAWS" IN THE COMIC "THE SHARK IS BROKEN"

When Steven Spielberg, the Academy Award winning filmmaker, created his 1975 film portraying great white sharks that attacked and killed swimmers in a fictional town like Martha’s Vineyard, he never imagined the impact it would have on the shark population. Not only did “Jaws” terrify beach goers, it inspired many fishermen to hunt sharks for sport, causing their numbers east of North America to be cut in half. For this, Spielberg regretted the effect his blood thirsty movie had on the shark survivors.

You now have the unique opportunity, today until Sunday, October 20, to make the acquaintance of the trio of actors who made the movie, with frustrating experiences every day for nine weeks as they realized “The Shark Is Broken.” “The Shark Is Broken” is written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon and directed by Joe Discher.

Thanks to Playhouse on Park in West Hartford, you will find yourself aboard the ship the Orca where a police chief (Roy Scheider) played by Nicholas Greco, a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) played by Jake Regensburg and a ship captain (Robert Shaw) played by John D. Alexander while away the hours. They drink whiskey and rye, play card games, and bicker and badger each other about their careers as they wait for the shark, named Bruce, to be repaired.

Ironically, the problem fixing the shark creates more suspense and terror as it is rarely viewed in the film, just introduced by ominous music, and builds anticipation. Spielberg actually called the continued mechanical problems as “good luck because it's a scarier movie without seeing so much of the shark.” Come judge for yourself as you seek a comfortable and comic seat on Johann Fitzpatrick’s realistic ship, awaiting “Bruce’s” arrival. Spoiler alert: he never makes it.

For tickets ($27.50-57.50), call Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Avenue, West Hartford at 860-523-5900, ext. 10 or online at playhouseonpark.org. Performances are Tuesday at 2 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m, Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 pm. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., followed by a talkback. Coming soon are "A Man with Standards: An Evening with John O’Hurley” on October 24 at 4 p.m., “An Evening with Rossi, the Punk Rock Queen of the Jews” on October 29 at 7 p.m. and “Mother (And Me) A Daughter’s Story of Love, Loss and Goulash" by Melinda Buckley on November 2 at 7:30 p.m. and November 3 at 2 p.m. Check the website for more theatrical adventures.

Watch these actors portraying actors survive the tedious delays as they question whether this movie, filmed on a real ocean for the first time, is really worth their time and talents.