My overall impression
The Lockout was exceptional! I loved being taken on an emotional journey into the story of the Labor Union strike in the turn of the century in Dublin, and the conditions and struggles of the laborers and the sacrifices that were made through the emotions and words of the character Ellen Byrne. The acting was so compelling! Everyone was wonderful, with Christopher Wallinger bringing intensity to his character Jim Larkin, and Lyle Friederichs who portrays James Connolly with passion and fierceness. Playing the lead character Ellen Byrne, Bridgette Campbell took the audience on a emotional journey with such seamless storytelling! I particularly loved how she connected with individual people toward the front rows when she was telling her story, as if she were talking to her friend or someone in her time/era. Flawless! Her acting is true, organic, not forced in the least, even working with an Irish accent. I also loved how the play incorporated set pieces to create parts of the story, like crumpling the newspapers over their heads to simulate being rained upon, using crates/boxes for podiums momentarily, then replacing them to their appropriate places on set…very artistic and they were GREAT additions to the effects of the story! Highly recommended and a great emotional journey! Well done!
