LOCKOUT

My overall impression

“Lockout” is an eye-opening account of what life was like for the poor during the labor union strikes in Dublin. Told from the perspective of Ellen Byrne a mother of three children and wife to a striker, playwright Ann Matthews provides a glimpse into the lives of those hit hardest by the lockout. Bridgette Campbell, as Ellen, portrays a heart-breaking stoicism and strength bred from sheer force of will and necessity. You want to pity her, but her fierce refusal to give up prevents such maudlin sentiments. With Lyle Friederichs and Christopher Wallinger as the enigmatic strike leaders, James Connolly and Jim Larkin, “Lockout” is a beautifully done snapshot of Irish history.