Best of the weekend

Best play time

A modern Alice in Wonderland opened at the Silo Theatre this week in the form of Noah Haidle's Mr Marmalade. Michael Hurst makes a return to directing contemporary theatre, and actors include Hannah Tolich and Paolo Rotondo.

The story is about 4-year-old Lucy's obsession with a cocaine-addicted imaginary friend, a situation which gets stranger when Lucy meets 5-year-old Larry, New Jersey's youngest to attempt suicide. A corrupt but humorous world seen through children's eyes.

* Mr Marmalade - Silo Theatre, Lower Grey's Ave, City, to 15 April, 7pm shows Monday and Tuesday, 8pm shows Wednesday and Saturday, tickets from ticketmaster or silotheatre.co.nz (see link below).

Best of the Pacific

The Pasifika Festival, today at Western Springs Park and Stadium, is expected to attract 200,000 people. There will be a wealth of food, music and more, with separate areas representing different Pacific cultures. Music is the big drawcard and this year there's a mix of contemporary and traditional. Highlights on the Contemporary Stage include Nesian Mystik, Tha Feelstyle, and Adeaze. On the Cultural Stage you'll find everything from Tongan war chants to Fijian love songs.

* Pasifika Festival - Western Springs Park and Stadium, today, 10am-5pm

Best Monday rock

Dinosaur Jr helped to define underground or independent rock throughout the 1980's and 1990's, and now they return to New Zealand to perform this Monday. The original lineup of J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph reunite at the St James in Auckland. Said to have influenced Nirvana, The Pixies and many more, Dinosaur Jr were born out of punk rock and then moved on to help create a genre of their own. Here to promote reissues of their old albums Dinosaur, You're Living All Over Me and Bug, the band is also rumoured to be recording a new album, which would be their first release in 15 years.

* Dinosaur Jr - with Kill Surf City, St James, this Monday, tickets from Ticketek

Best music peace

More than 500 performers are in Taranaki this weekend for the Parihaka Peace Festival. They include chart-toppers Fat Freddy's Drop, plus Kora, Katchafire, Ladi 6, and a huge lineup of international DJ talent. It's not just about the music - there are comedy, films a peace forum, and much more. The festival draws inspiration from the people of Parihaka pa, who in 1881 greeted government troops not with violence, but with song, dance, and offers of food.

* Parihaka International Peace Festival - Parihaka Pa, Taranaki, today and tomorrow, tickets from Ticketek

Best ventriloquist

Join American ventriloquist David Strassman and his wacky array of co-stars when he stops off in Auckland as part of his New Zealand-wide Get Chuck'd tour. He's known as a top practitioner of the art of making puppets talk without moving his lips. Joining him on the tour is his infamous and offensive friend Chuck, the innocent Ted E Bare, and the comic Sid the Beaver. Since his last visit, Strassman has toured Australian twice, performing to more than 130,000 fans.

* David Strassman and guests - Aotea Centre, Auckland, tonight, two shows, 7pm and 9.15pm; Forum North, Whangarei, tomorrow.