Two Billion Beats Review
We are introduced to Asha and Bettina, two sisters with very different attitudes and very different lives, in a story that is primarily set on a bus stop in Leicester.
The talented Shala Nyx portrays Asha, the intelligent, outwardly self-assured overachiever, with a genuine feeling of quiet vulnerability. Tanvi Virmani portrays Bettina, a charming but frequently regrettably exploited character, in the most sympathetic manner possible.
The lights dim, and we start to learn about the sister’s daily struggles—including their relationship with their mother and bus bullying—as well as their current exam paper score. All of this is explained via the lens of daily interactions, whether you’re taking the bus or sitting in a detention period while cleaning off wall graffiti.
When Asha breaks the narrative structure and speaks to the audience directly about her previous or prospective essays, the overall story is brought together. The first one discusses B. R. Ambedkar and Gandhi’s ideological conflict in the 1930s. The second is a biography of Sylvia Pankhurst, a suffragette. The character is moving around the stage while giving these monologues to the audience, demonstrating the contrasts in viewpoints between different personas and creating her own perspective of what is right and wrong.
It all comes together when Bettina opens up and says she is being tormented for lunch money by some school students, giving Asha the ideal chance to go in her own direction. The parallel in this story is Asha learning more about her political principles and convictions while also trying to figure out how to support her sister.
These topics are fortunately coupled with dark humour and placed in a young current environment, making them understandable even to those without prior understanding of the issue. The writing is realistic, funny, and smart throughout. There are moments it’s also brimming with delight! With one scene in particular, the sisters dance joyfully to celebrate the resolution of one of their battles, beaming with childlike glee.
This production seeks to leave a lasting impression. It educates people, is fun and intelligent. It’s definitely worth seeing
Written by Sonali Bhattacharya and Directed by Nimmo Ismail at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, London till 4th February.