Here are all of the shows we wish we could get out and see this week!  Take your pick from our list of great theatre escapes for the week of January 30th, 2011:

**  Shows marked with the double asterisks and in red are the ones that make Megan, our editor, wish she could clone herself so she could check them all out.

Caught Our Eye Playlistings for the Week of January 30th, 2011

**Barrymore by William Luce (Barrymore Entertainment Limited). Christopher Plummer portrays legendary actor John Barrymore as he struggles with the role of Richard III and looks back on his life. Opens Jan 28 and runs to Mar 9, Fri-Sat and Mon-Wed 8 pm. $55-$120. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge. 416-872-5555, barrymoretheplay.com.

**Billy Elliot The Musical by Lee Hall and Elton John (Mirvish). A boy leaves boxing for ballet while his family struggles with economic troubles in small-town England. Previews Feb 1-28. Opens Mar 1 and runs to Jul 10, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 1:30 pm. $36-$130. Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

Butterflies Are Free by Leonard Gershe (Encore Entertainment). A blind man is caught between a free-spirited woman and his overprotective mother. Opens Jan 27 and runs to Feb 6, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $28-$29.50. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge. 416-872-1111, encoreshows.com.

**Eternal Hydra by Anton Piatigorsky (Crow’s Theatre). Controversy surrounds the discovery of a long-lost literary masterpiece. Previews Jan 22-26. Opens Jan 27 and runs to Feb 13, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm (except Sun preview at 7 pm). $28-$40, stu/srs $23-$35, previews $15, Sun pwyc. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst. 416-504-9971, crowstheatre.com

**Story by Aurora Stewart de Pena (Birdtown and Swanville). A young woman travels back in time in order to understand her family’s bad habits. Opens Feb 1 and runs to Feb 13, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $15 (totix.ca). Double Double Land, 209 Augusta. birdtownandswanville.com.

**Forever Yours, Marie-Lou by Michel Tremblay (Théâtre français de Toronto). Two sisters confront their tragic family history, caused by a failure to communicate. Previews Feb 2-3. Opens Feb 4 and runs to Feb 19, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mats Feb 12 & 19 at 3:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. $33-$57, stu/srs $28-$57, Wed pwyc. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-534-6604, theatrefrancais.com.

Little Crickets by Douglas Campbell (Foundry Theatre Company). Romanian sisters in Paris meet a controlling Canadian expat in this play reading. Jan 31 at 7 pm. Pwyc. The Detour Bar, 193.5 Baldwin. firstdrafttoronto@gmail.com.

Love Letters (Talisker Players Chamber Music). Actors read and musicians play various works related to the theme of love. Feb 1-2 at 8 pm. $30, srs $20, stu $10. Trinity St Paul’s Church, 427 Bloor W. 416-466-1800, taliskerplayers.ca.

Oleanna by David Mamet (Soulpepper). A power struggle ensues when a female student accuses a professor of sexual harassment. Previews Jan 29-Feb 2. Opens Feb 3 and runs to Mar 5, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm (see website for other times). $28-$60. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, soulpepper.ca.

Pinkalicious, The Musical by Elizabeth Kann, Victoria Kann and John Gregor (Vital Theatre). A girl turns pink after eating too many cupcakes in this family musical. Opens Oct 9 and runs to May 29, Sat-Sun 1 pm. $29.50-$39.50. Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington. 416-642-8973, vitaltheatre.ca.

Sorbet And The Single Girl/Carl, Suzanne And The Taximan by Jane A. Shields/Rosemary Doyle (And the Co-op). Two one-act plays are featured on this double bill. Opens Jan 24 and runs to Feb 6, Jan 24, 28, 30 and Feb 3-6 at 7 pm. $14. Bread & Circus, 299 Augusta. 416-336-3399, breadandcircus.ca.

**The Evolution Of Gospel Music (Global Kingdom Ministries). Live music, drama and dance are used to illustrate a musical journey from early Negro spirituals to today’s music scene. Feb 4-5 at 7 pm. $25-$30. 1250 Markham. 905-794-1139, evolutionofgospelmusic.com.

The Full Monty by Terrence McNally and David Yasbek (Scarborough Music Theatre). Unemployed steelworkers find a new and revealing way to make ends meet in this musical. Opens Feb 3 and runs to Feb 19, Thu-Sat 8 pm (see website for mats and other times). $25, stu/srs $21, stu rush $10. Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston. 416-267-9292, theatrescarborough.com.

The Magic Flute by WA Mozart (Canadian Opera Company). The opera about growing up and seeking ideals is performed in German. Opens Jan 29 and runs to Feb 25, Jan 29, Feb 1, 3, 8, 10, 16, 18, 23 and 25 at 7:30 pm, mats Feb 6 and 20 at 2 pm, Feb 12 at 4:30 pm. $62-$281. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. 416-363-8231, coc.ca.

The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill (UC Follies). An arch criminal and a beggar battle for control of the streets in this black-comedy jazz cabaret. Opens Feb 3 and runs to Feb 12, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Feb 12 at 2 pm. $20, stu/srs $12. Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.

Already Covered by MoT

**After Magritte/The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard (Alumnae Theatre). Two of Stoppard’s one-act comedies are presented in this double bill. Opens Jan 21 and runs to Feb 5, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm. $20, Wed 2-for-1, Sun pwyc. 70 Berkeley. 416-364-4170, alumnaetheatre.com.

Odyssey (Why Not Theatre/Theatre Ad Infinitum). A man seeks revenge and to reunite with his family in this adaptation of Homer’s epic. Opens Jan 25 and runs to Jan 30, Tue-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm. $20. Tarragon Theatre, Extra Space, 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, theatreadinfinitum.co.uk.

**Ruined by Lynn Nottage (Obsidian Theatre/Nightwood Theatre). Women struggle to survive and heal during the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Previews Jan 16-19. Opens Jan 20 and runs to Feb 12, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Wed 12:30 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm (Sunday Tea Talks to benefit the Fistula Foundation at 1 pm, by donation). $15-$35. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley. 416-368-3110, obsidian-theatre.com.

The Bird by Sonja Mills (Union Eight Theatre). A same-sex couple’s family and friends mix at a jealousy-driven cocktail party. Previews Jan 8-11. Opens Jan 12 and runs to Jan 30, Tue-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2:30 pm. Pwyc-$33. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, unioneighttheatre.com.

The Dining Room by AR Gurney (Down n’ Out Productions). A series of vignettes satirize the family life of bourgeois America. Opens Jan 18 and runs to Feb 6, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2:30 pm (no show Jan 21). $25. Campbell House Museum, 160 Queen W. 416-597-0227.

The Misanthrope by Molière, adapted by Martin Crimp (Tarragon Theatre). A playwright who scorns celebrity culture falls for a superficial film starlet. Previews Dec 29-Jan 4. Opens Jan 5 and runs to Feb 6, Tue-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2:30 pm. $23-$46, rush $10. 30 Bridgman. 416-531-1827, tarragontheatre.com.

*Listings based on NOW stage listings*