WHAT'S HAPPENING : THEATER.

Crazy little thing called love: Love is in the air at A Noise Within, Glendale's classical repertory company.

The two plays in repertory there - Shakespeare's ``As You Like It'' and Eugene O'Neill's ``Ah, Wilderness!'' - depict the contortions that people go through in the name of love. The Shakespeare play has sweethearts encountering one another in the woods, where the woman's disguise and impish sense of humor keep the poor guy guessing while she plumbs the depths of his feeling for her. The O'Neill play focuses on a temperamental 16-year-old who - after a misunderstanding with his girl - pulls a theatrical get-even stunt in which he gets drunk and flirts with (and that's all) a prostitute.

They're both utterly charming, as staged by resident director Sabin Epstein and performed by gifted casts. As such, they exemplify the sort of work the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle wanted to recognize when - just last week - it presented the troupe the prestigious Margaret Harford Award for sustained achievement.

``Ah, Wilderness!'' plays at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, ``As You Like It'' at 7 p.m. Sunday. A stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' ``Great Expectations'' joins the rotating performing schedule on April 13. Performances continue through May. Tickets are $18 and $22, available by calling [phone]. A Noise Within is at 234 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale.

SOURCE: - Daryl H. Miller ART Eggs-ceptional: The ultimate in decorated Easter eggs can be found Sunday at the Ukrainian Art Center's annual Pysanka festival and open house.

Ukrainian Easter eggs, known for their intricate beauty, will be featured in an exhibit of traditional baskets filled with rich embroidered towels and ritual foods.

In addition, the festival will include the Ukrainian Dance Company of Los Angeles, paintings and etchings by Ukrainian artists, crafts, folk-art demonstrations, music and traditional foods.

The Ukrainian Art Center is at 4315 Melrose Ave. The festival hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $5 for general audiences, $3 for seniors and free for children under age 6. For information, call [phone].

SOURCE: - Lori Moody FILM Top flight: The tense techno-thriller ``Executive Decision'' may be just another ``Die Hard on an Airliner'' clone, but it's a pleasingly gripping one. That's especially impressive, since most of the action takes place at the beginning and the end. You're still biting your nails in between.

Kurt Russell plays a think tank anti-terrorist expert who finds himself in charge of a commando squad on a hijacked jet. If the plane lands, a nerve gas bomb on board could wipe out the Eastern seaboard. If Russell's squad doesn't succeed, they and hundreds of passengers will be shot down.

Director Stuart Baird doesn't exactly deliver a thinking person's thriller, but he has made one in which the heroes' brains are their primary weapons. Amazing how much of a fresh charge that gives the old formula.

SOURCE: - Bob Strauss MUSIC He writes the songs: Acclaimed as one of the best singer-songwriters of the last 25 years, Nashville-based John Hiatt rarely backed up his talent with thoroughly outstanding collections of songs until last year.

That current disc, ``Walk On,'' contains a series of marvelous melodies and sharply crafted lyrics dealing with everything from media saturation to the militia movement. But Hiatt is no reactionary; most of the material has to do with the politics of various relationships.

Hiatt says his best songs come while he's on the road, so if you're planning to catch his act Saturday at the Ventura Theatre in Ventura, you may get some brand new tunes as part of the bargain.

Hiatt in concert often covers gems from favorite albums such as 1987's ``Bring the Family'' and 1990's ``Stolen Moments.'' His feisty young band supplies the rest of the ammunition.

The Ventura Theatre is at 26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura. Show time is 8 p.m. and tickets are $22.50. Information: [phone].

SOURCE: - Fred Shuster

Mozart at Pierce: The West Valley Symphony Orchestra will present an all-Mozart program at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Pierce College Performing Arts Theater.

Under the direction of music director James Domine, pianist Paul Da Silva will solo in a performance of Concerto No. 23, while 17-year-old Peter Brockman will perform the Violin Concerto No. 3.

Tickets range from $8 to $12 and can be reserved by calling [phone]. The theater is located at 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills.

SOURCE: - Lynette Rice

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1) Acclaimed Nashville-based singer-songwriter J ohn Hiatt brings his act to the Ventura Theatre on Saturday.

(2) Flight attendant Halle Barry aids rescuers, led by Kurt Russell, on an airliner hijacked by terrorists in ``Executive Decision.''

(3) Ann Marie Lee, William Mesnik and Jill Hill in A Noise Within's ``As You Like It.''