By Sophie Johnson, Sports Editor
Zac Efron, the circus and sweet-sounding music. Sounds like a match made in heaven, right? “The Greatest Showman” incorporates all these pieces and more into an hour and forty-five minutes as it shares the story of Phineas Taylor “P.T.” Barnum and how The Greatest Show on Earth came about.
In 1841, Barnum purchased the Scudder’s American Museum — a museum located in New York City dedicated to American culture — and changed the name to “Barnum’s American Museum.” His name became famous worldwide. Thirty-four years later, circus operators Dan Castello and William Cameron Coup convinced Barnum to join a partnership with them. Together they created P.T. Barnum’s Great Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Hippodrome.
James Anthony Bailey, James E. Cooper and Barnum created the Barnum and Bailey Circus in 1881. The circus suffered a serious trainwreck that injured two animal caretakers and killed 33 horses, two camels and one mule on Aug. 22, 1881.
Ten years later on April 7, 1891, Barnum passed away and Bailey bought his share of the circus. His circus did great until April 11, 1906, when Bailey passed away. The Ringling brothers combined their show with the Barnum and Bailey Circus into the well known Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Over the past few years, the circus struggled due to legal battles with animal rights groups and high operating costs. After 146 years, the circus decided it would be taking down its big tent forever.
Ringling struggled with PETA, which thought it was cruel to force animals to perform. Elephants were removed from the show, but ticket sales dropped drastically. The circus performed its last show on May 21, 2017, which was sold out to a very enthusiastic crowd.
“The Greatest Showman” is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. I walked into the theater thinking it was just going to be another boring documentary. Little did I know that it was going to be an upbeat musical.
If you’re not really into musicals, don’t worry. There is also some romance and beef between characters that will get your blood pumping. At times, I just wanted to throw my drink at the screen, but I controlled myself.
The scene at the end has to be the best part of the movie — don’t worry, I’m not going to spoil it for you. My heart was about to explode with joy. I never thought a movie could do this to you.
Don’t even get me started on the soundtrack. This is the kind of music you drive down the beach road with your windows down singing at the top of your lungs to.
If you like musicals, Zac Efron or the circus, you need to see this movie. If you can’t make it to the theater, at least do yourself a favor and listen to the soundtrack.
Junior Sophie Johnson can be reached at @johnsonso0628@daretolearn.org.
