Previews began Oct. 10."Two beautiful Irish colleens – one fair, one dark – inhabit this wildly romantic melodrama from the author of past Irish Rep hits The Shaughraun and The Streets of New York," according to production notes. "Set in the lush mountains of County Kerry and staged as an authentic 'fit-up,' an Irish traveling show, The Colleen Bawn features loyal hunchbacks with sinister motives, heroic rescues from icy lakes, and the triumph of pure love – complete with live fiddling!"

The cast includes Paul Vincent Black, James Cleveland, Terry Donnelly, Laura James Flynn, George Heslin, John Keating, Colin Lane, Declan Mooney, Heather O'Neill, Ciaran O'Reilly and Caroline Winterson. This limited engagement ends Nov. 30.

Designers for The Colleen Bawn are James Morgan (set), Linda Fisher (costume), Brian Nason (lighting) and Zachary Williamson (sound).

Dion Boucicault was a major figure in 19th-century theatre, and the most prolific Irish playwright. He wrote and adapted over 200 plays including The Colleen Bawn, Arrah-na-Pogue, The Shaughraun and The Streets of New York, which was revived at the Rep in 2001 and remounted as the final show of the Westport Country Playhouse's 2003 season.

Tickets are $40 and $45. The Irish Rep is at 132 W. 22nd St. For information, call (212) 727-2737 or visit www.irishrep.org.