Critics' picks
"Hay Fever"
With the Charles River visible just beyond the stage, the Publick Theatre creates the perfect contrast between the calm countryside and the delightfully dotty Bliss family who inhabit Noel Coward's "Hay Fever." A relaxing weekend turns into a dizzying dramatic event in this crisp comedy, running through Sept. 14 at Christian Herter Park. 617-454-1444, www.publicktheatre.com
--Terry Byrne
"The Woman in Black"
Karen MacDonald directs Steven Barkhimer and Shelley Bolman in a stylish ghost story that's at once a grandly oldfashioned entertainment and a smart commentary on the power of theater. Through Sept. 14 at Gloucester Stage, Gloucester. 978-281-4433, www.gloucesterstage.org
--Louise Kennedy
For complete listings, visit boston.com/ae/events. 