Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre continues its ambitious "Synge Cycle," a mounting of all seven of John Millington Synge's plays, with two of his lesser-known works. Written early in Synge's career, "When the Moon Has Set" was never produced or published during his lifetime and is being billed as a world professional premiere.

At only 25 minutes, "When the Moon Has Set" is a Gothic romance, complete with a mysterious madwoman and love both lost and dearly won. Colm Sweeney has come to settle the affairs of his uncle, who has died after an extended illness. Having fallen in love with his uncle's nurse, Sister Eileen, Colm is desperate to persuade her to give up her vows and accept his. The young lovers are confronted with the specter of the uncle's lonely, wasted life and his forsaken love, the now raving Mary Costello.

Director Melissa Hill Grande lets the spooky and hopeful reside comfortably beside each other, helped immensely by scenic designer Gianni Downs, who combines sets so that interior scenes are surrounded by a desolate outdoors of tumbled rocks that reeks of ruins and graveyards.

As Colm Sweeney and Sister Eileen, Kevin Murphy and Mari Howells are achingly earnest. Murphy burns with a passion that drives the play forward, and Howells moves convincingly from torment to triumph.

Amanda Jane Cooper as the servant, Bride, and Bridget Connors as Mary provide the dark and poetic background against which the lovers come together.

"Deirdre of the Sorrows" is a much later play, left unfinished at the time of Synge's death in 1909. Its plot comes from Irish myth but plays as a deeply human love story.

Beautiful Deirdre is desired by old King Conchubor. She, however, loves the young and handsome Naisi. Although it was prophesied before her birth that she would be the cause of the destruction of the kingdom, Deirdre chooses to live and love, and, through this choice, Synge allows her to be both human and heroic, an Irish Cleopatra.

Rebecca Berkman-Rivera's Deirdre is strong and passionate, commanding enough to fell kings. Ben Blazer, as Deirdre's love, Naisi, is the consummate hero, resolute in both love and war. Martin Giles' Conchubor, though, is perhaps the most complex character, exultant in his cruelty yet shriveled by insecurity.

Director Ellen Mease doesn't always get the story across clearly, although Synge's middle is a bit convoluted, with a new character being introduced and battle lines quickly shifting. But the resolution is beautiful, richly lit by designer Jim French, and Deirdre's dying speech, written as Synge faced his own imminent death, is among his most strikingly lyrical.