THE STAGE

Celebration. A musical by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, authors of "The Fantasticks." Performed by the Huby's Pub Theater in an intimate cabaret-type setting, at the Ramada Inn, 1234 Soldier's Field Road, though December 2. Performances Saturday and Tuesday at 8:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets $3.50.

Equus. The Anthony Perkins Broadway hit about psychoanalysis and horses. At the Wilbur Theatre, 252 Tremont Street, Boston. Runs through December, with evening performances at 8 p.m., matinees at 2 p.m.

George M! A thoroughly enjoyable version of the Joel Grey Broadway hit about the life of entertainer George M. Cohan, thanks mainly to Greg Minahan, the show's director, who plays the title role with phenomenal energy and conviction. Minahan's charistmatic performance is complemented by foot-stomping choreography and a lively Cohan score which includes standards like "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "Over There" and "Give My Regards to Broadway." The best Grant-in-Aid musical in at last three years. At the Agassiz, November 20-22, at 8 p.m. Tickets $3.50 and $3, $2 for students.

Miss Lonelyhearts. An adaptation of Nathaniel West's short novel about a newspaper columnist, a sort of grotesque "Dear Abby," who becomes involved in the lives of his unhappy correspondents. Guaranteed to depress you. At the Loeb Ex, November 20-22, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets available free at the box office the day preceding each performance.

Moonchildren. Michael Weller's play about eight students sharing an apartment in the 60's is of course dated--peace marches and draft-dodging seem historical curiosities, almost archaicisms, by now. The play's chief impact, however, was never political; it derived instead from the emotional interaction between its characters, whose apparent friendship yields eventually to a sense of isolation and despair. Unfortunately, the Dunster House Drama Society's production of Moonchildren never fully creates the illusion of an initial community of friends, so the dissolution of that community is less heart-rending than it should be. Nevertheless, this production is enlivened by a few very funny moments, and standout performances by Diane Sherlock as a bizarre specimen of hippiedom and David Moore as Bob, who gives rise to the only moments of real tension in the play.

Pacific Overtures. A new Stephen Sondheim-Harold Prince musical about Commodore Perry's trip to Japan and its effect on the lives of two Japanese families. At the Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont Street, through November 29. Performances Monday through Saturday, at 8 p.m., with matinees Thurdsday and Saturday.

The Gulag Archipelago Firsthand. A one-man show with Yaakov Khantsis, featuring a simultaneous Yiddish translation. In the Leighton Room of Phillips Brooks House, November 20, at 6:45 p.m. Admission free.

The Merchant of Venice. A very good production indeed" of Shakespeare's not-so-funny comedy about the struggle between justice and mercy in a Venetian courtroom, according to Crimson reviewer Paul K. Rowe. Jon Epstein delivers a commanding performance as Shylock, more sinned against than sinning, and the supporting cast is fine as well. A good bet for the weekend if you can't make it to Yale. At the Loeb, November 19-22, at 8 p.m. Tickets $3.50 and $3.

The Tempest. More Shakespeare, performed by the Boston Shakespeare Company at their playhouse at the corner of Berkeley and Marlborough Streets in Boston, through November. Performances Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets $4, student rush $3.