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This week's highlights

For Fri 01 Sept - Fri 08 Sept

Stage

This year's longest play opens this week. After six years in Vienna, Barrie Kosky returns with an eight-hour epic, The Lost Echo, based on Roman poet Ovid's Metamorphoses. Expect tragedy, comedy and restless leg syndrome. The tacky qualities of that other marathon, the Eurovision Song Contest, are celebrated in Eurobeat, an all-dancing, all-singing tribute hosted by Rockwiz host Julia Zemiro at the State Theatre.

Music

It's a week to reminisce about Australian music history. The Countdown Spectacular has an impressively naff line-up at Acer Arena. INXS relive their glory days with three sold-out shows at Luna Park from Thursday. Getting more current, comeback kids The Vines have sold out all three shows at the Annandale Hotel, starting Tuesday, the symphony join piano-pop star Ben Folds for four night at the Opera House from Wednesday and English alt-pop greats Gomez meet at Moore Park's Forum for three nights from Tuesday. Emo stars Dashboard Confessional play the Hordern on Wednesday. Texan alt-rockers Okkervil River play @Newtown on Thursday. Tea Party frontman Jeff Martin brings the Toronto Tabla Ensemble to the Enmore Theatre on Thursday.

Film

Kevin Smith returns with the sequel to his slacker opus Clerks. Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson and Jay and Silent Bob are joined by newcomer Rosario Dawson in Clerks II. Maid Jennifer Aniston screams on the inside as rich friends Catherine Keener and Frances McDormand lord it over her in Friends With Money. Emma Lung is caught in an unrequited love triangle in Aussie film 48 Shades while a father tries to come to terms with his sexually confused son in C.R.A.Z.Y.

But wait, there's more

In search of an escape from excess, Dan Kaufman draws the line at an impromptu singalong.

A facial a good alternative to standing in the mud

How Splendour in the Rain became Splendour in the Mud for Diana Plater.