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 23rd, 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.**A Maude-Lynne Evening And Redheaded Stepchild by Morgan Norwich and Johnnie Walker (Nobody’s Business Theatre). Two solo works from 2010’s Fringe and SummerWorks festivals return for a double bill. Jan 20-23, Thu-Sun 8 pm. $20. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander. 416-975-8555, nobodysbusiness.ca.

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.

**Boston Marriage by David Mamet (Le Salon Secret). Two female friends hatch schemes around money and relationships in this comedy. Opens Jan 21 and runs to Jan 29, Thu-Sat 8 pm. $25. Le Salon Secret, location revealed after ticket purchase. lesalonsecret.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.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – The Musical by Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbeck (Hart House Theatre). Two con men try to outwit each other in this comedy based on the 1988 film. Opens Jan 14 and runs to Jan 29, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Jan 29 at 2 pm. $25, stu/srs $10-$15. 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca.

**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.

Female Impersonator Shows (Zelda’s). Divas from Broadway, film and music perform weekly. Fri-Sat 9 pm Free. 692 Yonge. 416-922-2526, zeldas.ca.

Hard Times At The Hard Luck (Impulsive Entertainment). presents a weekly new material night for singers, poets, comics and others. Mon 9 pm. Pwyc. Hard Luck Bar, 812 Dundas W. impulsiveentertainment.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.

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.

Questo Bui Feroce (The Wild Darkness) (Compagnia Pippo Delbono/Harbourfront World Stage). Modern Italian theatre uses words and images to tell a story inspired by the essays of Harold Brodkey. Opens Jan 26 and runs to Jan 29, Wed-Sat 8 pm. $15-$49. Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.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 Last Days Of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis (Theatre @ York). Mother Teresa, Sigmund Freud and others testify at the trial of the notorious sinner in this comic drama. Previews Jan 23-24. Opens Jan 25 and runs to Jan 29, nightly at 7:30 pm, mats Wed and Fri 1 pm. $17, stu/srs $12, previews $5. York University, Joseph G Green Studio, 4700 Keele. 416-736-5888, yorku.ca/perform.

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 Mill Part 1: Now We Are Brody by Matthew MacFadzean (Theatrefront). Part 1 of the play cycle returns in conjunction with the premiere of Part 4. Jan 20-26, Wed-Thu 8 pm. $30, stu $20. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, theatrefront.com.

**The Mill Part 2: The Huron Bride by Hannah Moscovitch (Theatrefront). Part 2 of the play cycle returns in conjunction with the premiere of Part 4. Opens Jan 21 and runs to Jan 27, Thu-Fri 8 pm. $30, stu $20. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, theatrefront.com.

**The Mill Part 3: The Woods by Tara Beagan (Theatrefront). Part 3 of the play cycle returns in conjunction with the premiere of Part 4. Opens Jan 25 and runs to Jan 28, Fri and Tue 8 pm. $30, stu $20. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, theatrefront.com.

**The Mill Part 4: Ash by Damien Atkins (Theatrefront). Four youths inside the mill battle its ghosts and history in the final instalment of the play cycle. Previews Jan 12-13. Opens Jan 14 and runs to Jan 29, Jan 12-15, 18-19, 22, 24 and 29 at 8 pm, mats Jan 22, 26 and 29 at 2 pm. $30, stu $20, preview $15. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill. 416-866-8666, theatrefront.com.

The Tuesday Night Special (Drake Hotel). presents stand-up w/ Helder Brum, Bob Kerr, Andre Arruda, Sandra Battaglini, Mark Debonis, host Ryan Horwood and a musical guest. Jan 25 9 pm. $10. 1150 Queen W. 416-531-5042, thetuesdaynightspecial@gmail.com.

**Weesageechak Begins To Dance Festival XXIII (Native Earth Performing Arts). New works by Aboriginal creators include a play by Keith Barker, dance by Yvonne Chartrand, spoken word, Young Voices artists and more. Opens Jan 26 and runs to Jan 29, Wed-Sat 8 pm. $10, festival pass $30. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. 416-538-0988, nativeearth.ca.

Wingfield: Lost And Found by Dan Needles (Mirvish). A farmer seeks a new source of water during a drought in this solo comedy. Opens Jan 12 and runs to Jan 30, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun and Wed 2 pm. $25-$60. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge. 416-872-1212, mirvish.com.

Already Covered by MoT

**Assassins by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman (Birdland Theatre/Talk is Free Theatre). Historical figures who tried to assassinate American presidents meet in this dark musical. Previews Jan 6-7. Opens Jan 8 and runs to Jan 23, Wed-Mon 8 pm, mats Sat-Sun 2 pm. $35. Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen W. 416-504-7529, birdlandtheatre.com.

**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.

Oh My Irma by Haley McGee (Theatre Passe Muraille). A poet seeks to solve the mystery of her mother’s death in this solo show. Previews Jan 5-8. Opens Jan 11 and runs to Jan 29, Tue-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 2 pm. $25-$30, previews $15, mat pwyc. Backspace, 16 Ryerson. 416-504-7529, passemuraille.on.ca.

**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.

**Something Wicked Awesome This Way Comes (Second City) presents its 66th sketch comedy revue about how everyone (and everything) is awesome. Limited run, Tue-Sat 8 pm (plus Sat 10:30 pm), Sun 7 pm. $24-$29, stu $15. 51 Mercer. 416-343-0011, secondcity.com.

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*