STAGE

The Bacchae--A triumph for the Charles Playhouse and all concerned. Director Timothy S. Mayer has updated Euripides' play in translation and costumes, invested it with modern music, and staged it almost vertically. The devices are amazingly consistent with one another, also with the interpretation, and most of all with the play. The cast is fine. At the CHARLES, 76 Warrenton (542-3325).

Benito Cereno--The Robert Lowell play in yet another production. At the LOEB EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE.

Brecht on Brecht--A revue of sorts built around the plays, songs and other writings of The Man. At the THEATRE COMPANY OF BOSTON, 136 Mass. Ave. (426-6609).

The Children's Hour--Lillian Hellman tells a strange story. At the BU THEATRE, Comm. Ave. (353-3392).

Dear World--A dull musical with nothing to recommend it except the beautiful Angela Lansbury. Jerry Herman wrote the unhelpful score. Pre-Broadway tryout at the COLONIAL.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying--An unabashedly artless production of the Frank Loesser musical. Ideal football weekend entertainment. At AGASSIZ THEATRE (354-9175).

The Imaginary Invalid--A production of the Moliere play that, if nothing else, entertains. At DUNSTER HOUSE.

Iolanthe--Gilbert & Sullivan in the house where Julian Beck once dwelled. At KRESGE AUDITORIUM, M.I.T. (864-6900, ext. 2910).

The Measures Taken -- Brecht. At the HARVARD EPWORTH CHURCH, 1555 Mass. Ave. (491-9579).

Oh, What a Lovely War--In which World War I turns out not to be so lovely after all. At TUFTS ARENA THEATRE (628-5000, ext. 318).

The Promise--Reviewed on page 2. At the LOEB (UN 4-2630).

The Proposition--Local satirical revue. At 241 Hampshire St., Inman Square, Cambridge.

Riot!--Some living theatre of sorts stopping here on its way to Off-Broadway. At the FIRST PARISH CHURCH, Harvard Square (262-6611).

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown -- Which somehow works. At the WILBUR (426-9366).