Push / Pull

Central Works opens its 2025 season with Push/Pull, a play so packed with intensity and gym lingo, you might leave the theater feeling sore. Written by Harry Davis, this production takes a deep dive into the fine line between self-improvement and self-destruction—a line so fine, it might as well be written in protein powder.

Clark, our protagonist, is in rough shape—emotionally, not physically (yet). After a tough breakup and a stint in a mental health facility, he reconnects with his childhood buddy Nolan, who’s now an amateur bodybuilder with the kind of dedication usually reserved for medieval monks or tax auditors. Nolan offers to turn Clark into a muscle-bound marvel, provided Clark helps him win his Pro Card. What ensues is equal parts bro-bonding, existential unraveling, and enough posing routines to make a peacock self-conscious.

Under the direction of Gary Graves, Push/Pull finds its rhythm in the push-pull (see what I did there?) of these two men’s ambitions. The intimate setting at the Berkeley City Club means you can see every muscle twitch and every drop of sweat (hopefully stage sweat, but no guarantees). It’s the kind of play that makes you think deep thoughts, like: What drives us to reinvent ourselves? Can we ever really escape who we are? And do I need to start lifting weights?

Andre Amarotico plays Clark with the kind of quiet desperation that sneaks up on you, while Matthew Kropschot’s Nolan is the embodiment of a guy who truly believes discipline can fix everything. Together, they create a chemistry that feels like two guys stuck in an elevator, each convinced the other one has the key.

Davis’ writing is smart, funny, and sneakily profound. The dialogue snaps like a weight belt in need of replacement, and the themes hit as hard as a deadlift gone wrong. There’s a rhythm to the words that makes you feel like you’re watching two people spar, except instead of punches, they’re throwing doubts, fears, and occasional flexes.

Visually, the play delivers the goods—sharp lighting, well-timed sound cues, and a general sense that if you sat too close, you might get drafted into an impromptu push-up contest. The whole thing is beautifully staged, making the audience feel like voyeurs at the gym, watching two men lift more than just weights.

Central Works has done it again—taking a topic you didn’t know you needed to see on stage and making it riveting. If you’ve ever wrestled with the idea of self-worth, ambition, or whether you should be drinking more raw eggs, Push/Pull is for you.

Ticket Information

• Performances Through March 30
• Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA
• Showtimes
  • Thurs & Fri: 8 PM
  • Sat: 7 PM
  • Sun: 5 PM
• Tickets
  • Fri–Sun: $35–$45
  • Thurs: Pay-What-You-Can
  • Sliding scale tickets ($20–$45) available at noon on the day of the show
• How to Get Tickets
  • Purchase online at centralworks.org
  • Call (510) 558-1381 for more information

Stretch first.