#askwdwheeler

[askwdwheeler]

Would you have run into the fire to rescue Anne, had Phillip not?

Of course. I am unsure of any brother who would not do the same for his sister, and I do not believe I’d like to ever meet anyone of the sort.

Carlyle running straight into the fire to save my sister is, perhaps, the bravest thing I have ever seen a man do. I only wish I’d had the same quick thinking he had.

I believe that was the night my relationship with Carlyle changed, and he received my ‘blessing’ of sorts. He and Anne are no longer courting, to my knowledge, but he is still a wonderful friend to her, and for that I am grateful.

—WD

#the greatest showman #tgs #greatest showman #wd wheeler #anne wheeler #phillip carlyle #carwheeler #askwdwheeler #anon #anonymous #circus fire

[askwdwheeler]

*Pokes his head in and looks around in frustration* You, acrobat. Inform me to the whereabouts of your ridiculous leader. He is playing hide and seek with me like a child, I have an important article to write and I'd rather not spend any more time in this unsavory barnyard than I absolutely need to.

Well hello to you too, Mr. Bennett. Long time no see, huh?

You know, if you want me to help you, the least you could do is learn my name. ‘You, acrobat,’ is no decent way to greet a colleague.

As it happens, I’m afraid I can’t help you much, anyway. The last I saw of Mr. Barnum, he was a bit drunk and mopey. Haven’t seen him much around the circus today. He might still be in his office, or perhaps he went down to the docks. He does that sometimes when he’s battling a headache.

Best of luck.

—WD

#WD pls be nice to our guest #smh #I apologize for his snark #the greatest showman #greatest showman #TGS #wd wheeler #askwdwheeler #Mr. Bennett!!! #mr. bennett from the harold #jg bennett #James Gordon Bennett #Mr. Bennett #askmrbennett

[askwdwheeler]

[Continued from here: https://askbarnum.tumblr.com/post/631541586248040448/the-tension-visibly-leaves-his-shoulders-as-they]

No concerns needed here, Mr. Barnum.

*Shrugs.*

I, personally, don’t feel much of an attraction to anyone, one way or the other, but you’re not exactly hard to look at. Anyone with eyes can see that. Any person, man, woman, or otherwise, would be lucky to have you.

*Chuckles.*

And now, perhaps, I need to evaluate the fact that I work in such a place where I can tell my male boss that he is quite handsome, and not get thrown to the curb because of it.

*Falls silent as he listens to Barnum’s tale. Hums a little at the end.*

I suppose that if Carlyle were still with my sister, I’d have to be wary of you trying anything while they were still together. But... I haven’t been explicitly told anything, but I suspect that the sun set on that quite awhile ago now,

Your secret’s safe with us, Barnum.

*Makes a move to retrieve the box of truffles. Speaks, teasingly.*

Are we to find anymore sketches over here?

*In a moment of seriousness, he hesitates a little, then cautiously adds:*

I could be over-analyzing things, so don’t take this in haste. But, I’m quite sure I’ve seen Carlyle looking at you, too.

#c. lettie #the greatest showman #TGS #wd wheeler #pt barnum #phineas barnum #phineas taylor barnum #lettie lutz #askwdwheeler #askbarnum #asklettielutz #askblogs #drinks with friends

[askwdwheeler]

[Continued from here: https://askbarnum.tumblr.com/post/631276542015717376/shuffling-outside-after-paying-the-tab-he-blows ]

Not... getting soft. Just... didn’t eat much beforehand.

*The cold air helps his head some and he straightens up. Still leaning on Lettie, though not as heavily as before. Still tipsy, but able to think clearly. Looks a little sheepish.*

Rarely do before acts. Wouldn’t do much good if the flying trapeze artist got sick while in midair, huh?

It just hit hard, that’s all.

*As they walk on, he becomes much less reliant on Lettie. Still somewhat woozy, but manages to straighten to the point that the only support she’s got on him is a hand in his. Smiles and brings her hand to his lips in thanks, nothing more than a friendly gesture, before letting go.*

*Listens fondly to Barnum’s words, sympathetic toward the ringmaster, but not pitiful. Much of the troupe knows how much Barnum hates to be pitied over the recent separation.*

*He starts to frown, though, as the conversation suddenly shifts from Barnum to himself.*

A lady?

At present, the only lady I’ve got waiting for me at home is Luna.

*He shrugs*

I’m sure they’re out there, I just haven’t bothered to look. Companionship would be nice, but I’ve Luna for now — and what better joy can a man be greeted with than an overly eager Labrador waiting for his return home?

*Chuckles.*

As soon as I’ve time in my life for a woman, Barnum, I’ll let you know.

#c. lettie #the greatest showman #greatest showman #TGS #ace WD ftw #wd wheeler #pt barnum #phineas barnum #phineas taylor barnum #lettie lutz #askbarnum #asklettielutz #askwdwheeler #circus #askblogs #Luna the circus pup #cheers!

[askwdwheeler]

Is there something you would like to do in your act that Anne refuses to do?

There aren’t many things Anne will not do. Sometimes I think she is more fearless than I.

But, the fire left its scars on Anne as it did the rest of us. Perhaps more so, as she believes herself to be the reason Carlyle ran back into the old building. He did the right thing — had he not run in, I would have — but it’s still hard for her to see that. We talk often about it.

So, we keep away from anything involving fire. It’s a mutual agreement. Before, Barnum might have had Anne and I incorporate flaming hoops into our act... and I can’t say we wouldn’t have done it. But now, as I’m sure you can imagine, the troupe tries to keep away from fire as much as possible. Even Barnum himself is mostly in agreement. He can be careless, but no longer about flame — it was a close call for all of us.

No fire. It’s for the best.

—WD

#the greatest showman #greatest showman #tgs #wd wheeler #anne wheeler #pt barnum #phineas taylor barnum #phineas barnum #phillip carlyle #askwdwheeler #yahya abdul mateen ii #anon #anonymous #circus fire

[askwdwheeler]

What is your alcoholic beverage of choice?

Mmm. My drink of choice is a fairly common staple, but one that’s yet to grow old. Muddle sugar with Angostura bitters, add whiskey, and garnish with a lemon peel.

I know of some who substitute whiskey for brandy, but that’s not so much for me. Whiskey, in general, seems to be a popular choice among the troupe.

Of course, though I drink quite socially, I don’t seem to have much going for me in comparison to Barnum or Carlyle. The night they met, the bartender swears they each had numerous shots — he is not sure of the exact amount, claiming to have lost count — but neither of them so much as stumbled when they walked — er, danced? — out of the bar. I imagine the morning effects were quite unpleasant.

I, myself, am a fairly steady man, it is only when I fail to eat beforehand that alcohol hits me the hardest. Even so, I have never drank even nearly as much as the two of them without stumbling around like a downright fool afterwards.

Carlyle is usually quite fancy with his drinks, though. Champagne and all that. Perhaps I will have him try my drink sometime.

—WD

#the greatest showman #greatest showman #tgs #askwdwheeler #wd wheeler #pt barnum #phineas taylor barnum #phineas barnum #phillip carlyle #drinks #alcohol #whiskey #WD is a classic man

[askwdwheeler]

How do you feel about Barnum and Carlyle? Which one do you feel is more authoritative and which one are you closer to?

I don’t know how many people can say they get along with their boss, but thankfully I am one of them. Barnum and I don’t talk one-on-one very much, but I respect him a great deal.

Carlyle and I are able to exchange words more often. I feel we’re similar in personality, we get along quite nicely. We also share a love for reading and exchange titles on a fairly regular basis.

As for who’s more authoritative, I think it can vary a great deal. Barnum runs the show, but Carlyle keeps him grounded. They’re a good pair, and I think the more dominant one depends on the situation at hand.

—WD

#the greatest showman #greatest showman #tgs #pt barnum #phineas barnum #phineas taylor barnum #phillip carlyle #askbarnum #askcarlyle #askphillipbcarlyle #wd wheeler #askwdwheeler #hugh jackman #hj #zac efron #yahya abdul mateen ii #anon #anonymous

[askwdwheeler]

What do you think of Phillip? Is he still with Anne?

Carlyle and I get along well enough. I wasn’t sure what to think of him in the beginning, but now it seems he’s the one I most get along with in the troupe, aside from Anne.

While it is my duty to protect my sister, she insists that everything between them is fine and I have no reason to doubt her. The exact status of their relationship is unknown to me, but if Anne is happy then I will choose to believe her.

—WD

#the greatest showman #greatest showman #tgs #carwheeler #phillip carlyle #anne wheeler #wd wheeler #askwdwheeler #anon #anonymous

[askwdwheeler]

What is the weirdest thing Barnum has had you do in a show?

Perhaps not the “weirdest” in the strictest sense, but definitely the one that had me questioning my life’s choices the most in that moment...

I suppose Charles has blabbed by now that he once successfully dyed... my hair... pink. Mind you, I was asleep, an unassuming victim.

When Barnum found out, he made me perform like that, much to my protests. Anne had her wig on, he called us the “Prettiest Pink Pair of Pals Around.” He had me dress up in a purple suit, too, to match Anne’s.

Anne’s pink hair is just a wig. She could take it off at the end of every show.

I... was stuck like that for a good few weeks. Unfortunately, The Prettiest Pink Pair of Pals Around was not just a one-time thing.

Charles is lucky I am not a man to seek revenge.

—WD

#shorty better keep an eye out #wd wheeler #askwdwheeler #charles stratton #pt barnum #phineas taylor barnum #phineas barnum #anne wheeler #the greatest showman #greatest showman #tgs #anon #anonymous #yahya abdul mateen ii

[askwdwheeler]

Dear All,

Come Saturday, I will be taking a brief hiatus from the circus. It is not permanent, I will be gone only a fortnight, and may even find the time to send letters and check up on things in my absence. Anne and I are traveling to visit old family friends, and I did not want my possible extended silence to appear as though I’ve grown tired of our audience.

Barnum has approved the trip, and I shall try to find the most outrageous top hat I can to bring back to him. Perhaps a flask or two for Carlyle — I’m sure he’ll need it, after having to put up with things on his own.

Best,

—WD

#the greatest showman #greatest showman #TGS #wd wheeler #askwdwheeler #pt barnum #phineas barnum #phineas taylor barnum #phillip carlyle #I’m leaving for two weeks tomorrow so wanted to give everyone a head’s up 😌 #Hopefully I’ll still have time to check WD every once in awhile #!

[askwdwheeler]

Apart from the terrible fire incident, what has been your most displeasing encounter with the protesters?

On behalf of Carlyle, I believe the worst incident with protestors was the day they targeted a little boy waiting in line for a ticket.

The boy was waiting in line with his mother, but, according to what I’ve heard from Carlyle, she was a frail slip of a woman, hardly past her girlhood years. The boy was perhaps four or five, and possessed obvious physical deformities.

Some protestors caught sight of this boy, and the way they acted towards him was absolutely vile. Carlyle’s adamant in the fact that the boy and his mother were very clearly standing in the ticket line so it should have been obvious that they were mere audience-goers, not part of the troupe themselves, but this did nothing to stop the... charming protestors. They ridiculed, spit on, openly mocked this boy so much so that he left the line in tears, along with his mother.

Either Carlyle or Barnum — perhaps both — caught sight of the tail end of this encounter, and ended up giving the boy and his mother free passes to the show. They sat front row, right in front of our mighty elephants, and from what I hear the boy loved every single moment of it. His mother, supposedly, was so grateful she was in tears... whether that part actually happened or is simply one of Barnum’s tall tales is up for you to decide.

Carlyle remains adamant that that’s one of the worst things he’s seen come out of our lovely protestors. Of course, the fire was a much more dire situation, but the open mocking of a defenseless disabled boy is absolutely vile and truly demonstrates just how low these “fine contributors to society” are willing to go.

—WD

#the greatest showman #greatest showman #tgs #askwdwheeler #wd wheeler #phillip carlyle #askcarlyle #yahya abdul mateen ii #zac efron #pt barnum #phineas taylor barnum #phineas barnum #hugh jackman #hj #circus #anon #anonymous

[askwdwheeler]

Dear Friends,

Anne and I have returned to the circus. Our family member is recovering nicely and insisted we go home. My thoughts continue to be with them as they continue to heal.

You can expect Anne and I both back at tomorrow’s show.

—WD

#the greatest showman #greatest showman #TGS #wd wheeler #anne wheeler #circus #yahya abdul mateen ii #zenday coleman #zendaya #askwdwheeler #update #circus update #WD’s back bitches

[askwdwheeler]

Is mayonnaise an instrument?

Mayonnaise as in the... condiment?

Charles, is that you?

Well... no, I don’t believe mayonnaise could be any sort of instrument.

Please don’t let Barnum ever see this, I’d rather not try.

—WD

#um #I have questions #WD has questions #We all have questions #the greatest showman #greatest showman #TGS #wd wheeler #charles stratton #tom thumb #pt barnum #phineas barnum #phineas taylor barnum #askwdwheeler #Anon #anonymous

[askwdwheeler]

What's your fondest memory from your childhood?

Many of my fondest memories involve my mother. She passed when Anne and I were still young, neither of us yet of adult age, but she loved us enough to last more than a lifetime.

We never had an abundance of money growing up — our mother was a slave who was freed during the War and traveled north — but any extra we did manage to scrounge up, my mother was sure to spend on Anne and I. I felt guilty about it later on, but as a child you never tend to think of things like that. Mother would often buy us books and read them to us — children’s level at first, then literature that was more advanced. Thinking on it now, perhaps she was teaching herself to read as much as she was teaching us.

Perhaps that is my fondest memory. Mother reading to us. She stammered some, stumbled over words she didn’t know, but her voice was smooth and soft, like honey. I fell asleep many nights listening to the sound of her voice.

—WD

#wd wheeler #askwdwheeler #the greatest showman #greatest showman #tgs #anne wheeler #yahya abdul mateen ii #anon #anonymous

[askwdwheeler]

Dear Friends,

Due to a family emergency, I will not be able to come back to the circus tomorrow, as originally intended. Anne and myself will be absent for a few days longer than planned, but, God willing, shall return to the circus as soon as this emergency is well and behind us.

The trapeze act shall return as soon as it can. I only hope Carlyle can continue to put up with Barnum’s antics until then.

—WD

#the greatest showman #greatest showman #TGS #wd wheeler #anne wheeler #pt barnum #phineas taylor barnum #phineas barnum #phillip carlyle #askwdwheeler #important #update

[askwdwheeler]

Who is your best friend in the troupe?

I’ve answered similar questions in the past. While I’ve never been one to become particularly close with anyone, in the troupe or out of it, the other circus performers are perhaps the closest thing that Anne and I have to family.

I don’t believe I’ve developed bonds close enough to qualify any “best” friends, but I suppose the closest thing I have to one would be Carlyle. We aren’t overly familiar with one another, but he is the one I seek out most often outside of shows or rehearsal. I believe I’ve mentioned in a previous letter that he and I both have a great love for literature, and share several favorite stories and authors.

Of course, Anne is very dear to me and we have a sibling bond stronger than most. But a man seeking companionship with other men is quite a different dynamic. There aren’t many things Anne and I withhold from one another, but some things are easier to express when the person listening isn’t somebody that you shared meals and washtime with.

—WD

#the greatest showman #greatest showman #tgs #wd wheeler #anne wheeler #phillip carlyle #askwdwheeler #yahya abdul mateen ii #zenday coleman #zendaya #zac efron #anon #anonymous #askblog