PLOT
P.T. Barnum and his father Philo, a tailor, work for the Hallett family. The young Barnum jokes with Charity Hallett, he is reprimanded and slapped quite hard by Charity's father, Mr Hallett, and Charity is subsequently grounded. The two meet again outside, where Charity tells Barnum she is being sent to finishing school; Barnum reassures her they will not be separated. The two keep in touch through letters until they meet again in adulthood, eventually marrying, raising two children in New York City. They live a humble life; though Charity is happy, Barnum dreams of more.
Barnum is laid off from his job as a clerk at a shipping company, after the company goes bankrupt. Taking a risky bet, he takes out a large loan from a bank, deceiving the bank into accepting his former employer's lost ships as collateral. He uses this loan to buy Barnum's American Museum in downtown Manhattan, an attraction showcasing various wax models. Initially, sales are slow; on the suggestion of his children to showcase something "alive", he searches for freaks to serve as performers for his museum. This attracts a large audience, despite protests and poor reviews( one of which prompts Barnum to rename his venture "Barnum's Circus" out of spite).
Searching for ways to further his reputation amongst the upper-class, he meets playwright Phillip Carlyle and convinces him to join his venture ("The Other Side"). Carlyle arranges for Barnum and his troupe to meet Queen Victoria, whom they amuse; at this visit , Barnum meets Jenny Lind, a famed Swedish singer, who he convinces to perform in America, himself serving as her manager. At Lind's performance ("Never Enough"), Carlyle upsets Wheeler by not showing affection for her when his parents notice; otherwise the performance is a success. While Barnum gains favour with the aristocratic patrons, he still conceals his original circus from socialising with them. Dejected, they nonetheless decide to stand publicly against their local harassers ("This is Me"). Carlyle arranges Wheeler's attendance to the theatre with him , but after Carlyle's parents insult Wheeler, she leaves. Carlyle chases her, trying to convince her that they can be together, but she rejects him ("Rewrite the Stars"). As Barnum takes Lind on a U.S tour, Charity feels isolated from her husband as she stays home and takes care of their children ("Tightrope").
While on tour, Lind becomes attached to Barnum, making advances towards him; when he declines, she angrily calls him off the tour, and during the following performance's curtain call ("Never Enough (Reprise)"), she plants a goodbye kiss on him, photographed by the Herald. Barnum returns home to find his circus on fire because of a fight between the protesters and the troupe. In the chaos, Carlyle believes Wheeler to be in the burning building to save Carlyle. After the fire, most of the set and props have been destroyed and Carlyle has been gravely injured. Word of Lind's cancellation and Barnum's public intimacy also reaches New York, resulting in his mansion being foreclosed and Charity taking their daughters back to her parents' home.
Depressed, Barnum starts drinking. His troupe of performers track him down at a pub, persuading him to rebuild the circus; he resolves to remain down-to-earth rather than being carried away by reputation and wealth in the future ("From Now On"). Meanwhile, the injured Carlyle wakes in a hospital with Wheeler by his side.
Barnum visits his estranged wife, and they rebuild their relationship. After Barnum has difficulty finding a bank willing to loan money to rebuild the circus, the recovering Carlyle steps in - having saved his profits from the circus, Carlyle offers his earnings to rebuild it under the condition of becoming partners, which Barnum happily accepts. As rebuilding the circus in its original location would be too expensive, Barnum rebuilds it as an open-air tent circus by the docks. The new rebuilt circus is a success; Barnum hands over the reins of the show to Carlyle and retires to focus on his family.
Credit Wikipedia
Comments
Post a Comment