This week in theatre rounds up the most noteworthy live theatre playing right now in Toronto. It includes just-opened shows as well as productions that are about to close.

The Test / Berkeley Street Theatre / 8:00pm/1:30pm / $25- $50
Swiss-German playwright Lukas Barfuss' The Test features a crisis that threatens to crack the veneer of family ties. The Company Theatre's production is a challenging piece. At times it had me laughing at the deep darkness of the family's treatment of one another, and at others left me chilled with the reality of their destruction. It's a thrilling production that will stay with you long after leaving the theatre. Read my full review here.

Love Lies Bleeding / Sony Centre for the Performing Arts / 7:30pm / $20 - $100+
The Albert Ballet presents a boisterous dance performance inspired by the music of Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Although don't head in expecting traditional ballet or a flowery tribute to Sir Elton — there is plenty of spectacle including aerialists, dancers on spinning turntables, and fire-emitting roller skates. Loosely modeled on the idea of celebrity and the superstardom that accompanies international success, the Bennie and the Jets inspired group is in town until Nov. 12.

Ditch / Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace / 8:00pm/2:00pm / $16 - $20
Winner of a 1995 Chalmers Canadian Play Award, Ditch, by Geoff Kavanagh, profiles the Arctic in 1845, where Sir John Franklin led an expedition in an attempt to complete a crossing of the Northwest Passage. The play is a fictional account of two members of the expedition, Whitbread and Hennesey, who were abandoned by their shipmates. Ed Roy directs the Canadian drama.

The Odd Couple / Soulpepper - Young Centre for the Performing Arts / 7:30pm / $30 - $70
I've lost track as to how many times The Odd Couple has been remounted at Soulpepper, but for our purposes lets assume this is the last time you'll be able to see it on Young Centre stages. That said, you couldn't ask for better casting — Diego Matamoros as Felix and Albert Schultz as Oscar. It's an enduring play, and if you're looking for comfort and laughs, this is the one.

The Sankofa Trilogy / Tarragon Theatre / 8:00pm/2:30pm / $23
d'bi.young anitafrika, the internationally celebrated afrikan-jamaican-canadian dubpoet, performer and educator, is back with a trilogy of stories which brings together three generations of women. On stage at the Tarragon, the artist presents word!sound!powah! along with one-woman shows blood.claat and benu. With previous successes in Toronto, d'bi.young's star continues to rise. It's a strong addition to the Tarragon lineup to compliment the conventional fare.

Lead image from the Test