by Chloe Whitehorn

Bottle Tree Productions, Directed by Anne Marie Mortensen
February 2026 

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"A new drama by Chloë Whitehorn, Admit Two is a one act play presented by Bottle Tree Productions that uncovers the dark, hidden secrets behind a touring circus. Upon the beginning of the show, audiences meet Dante (Craig Norton), a knife thrower for the circus who has recently been released from prison, only to find that he has been replaced by a young and feisty aerialist, Glimmer (Syd Chinnick). He sees that Glimmer has been taken under the wing of Mama Rhea (Rosemary Euringer), a maternal figure whose partner, King, runs the circus. Refamiliarizing himself with his old home, Dante encounters his old flame and clairvoyant, Persephone (Shannon Donnelly). Her harsh demeanor towards him and the others drives the story along as the cast uncovers long-held secrets and attempts to fix the many things that are broken. ... Norton opens the show with a captivating monologue, reminiscing on both the grandeur and devastation that befall those within the circus. ...
 

Whitehorn’s writing is enticing, keeping me on the edge of my seat all evening. There’s a poetic style in the opening monologue and lively dialogue throughout, then a sprinkling of darker, complex themes in the latter half of the show. She does an excellent job making use of a singular set over the course of the show, and cleverly arranges the character’s entrances and exits from the space in order to best convey the story in a smaller setting. I particularly enjoyed how King haunted the narrative throughout, never seen on stage, but is an essential part of the play’s plot." --Michaela Tassone, Kingston Theatre Alliance

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