*** The opening of the hotel shows used to herald, along with the Longtails, the arrival of summer. Now, with the closing of the Empire Room at the ASouthampton Princess, night-time entertainment pickings are slim indeed.

For this reason, the summer offering at the Pembroke Princess, which is entitled `Nightlife', takes on more significance than usual, and it says something for the perennial appeal of Gene Steede that they have entrusted what is now their only show to a local entertainer.

He is also a survivor of what is possibly a dying breed -- namely, an all-rounder, who can sing, strum a musical instrument or two, and spice up the whole procedure with a few, tourist-oriented jokes. All of this Gene Steede manages very well, being as at home with the sounds of jazz and Motown as he is with a lyrical ballad or the ubiquitous calypso.

Mr. Steede can also always be relied upon to provide excellent back-up. He is a generous artist, who gives ample opportunity for his talented trio of female vocalists to shine in their own right, as he does with his band. This year, it is none other than Major Kenneth Dill, who steps out of uniform and into the neon lights as keyboards lead and conductor (yes, he still conducts like mad) of a top-rate quartet of instrumentalists. At times, their verve and elan threatened to swamp even the robust, and `miked' voices of Stardust (for such is the name of the glamorously clad female trio), but this problem seemed to lessen as the evening wore on.

With numbers that ranged from `Twisting the Night Away' and Gene Steede accompanying himself on the guitar as he sang, rather beautifully, `What A Wonderful World', the show soon got into its stride, with a demonstration of the diverse world of the calypso. There was a tribute to the Talbot Brothers in `She's got freckles on her... but' and a little Gombey rhythm in `Jump Bermuda'. Then, it was the talented Steve Dupres demonstrating his steel drums in such favourites as `Yellow Bird' and a spot of the classics in `Lieberstraum'.

No Gene Steede show would be complete without a session on the congo drums, and he was in top form.

In the second part of the show, the girls came into their own, with a medley of numbers which confirm that little Bermuda has considerable talent around in its female vocalists.

Dawnelle Robinson got the romantic mood going as she sang of `The Power of Love', and joining in a duet with Gene Steede at the end in `A Whole New World', from `Aladdin'.

Sheila Smith was at her considerable best in `Do you know the way to Santa Fe', and powerfully voiced Carol Ann Williams proved a worthy newcomer to the group with her rendition of `Say a Little Prayer for You'.

Steede fans will be pleased to know that `The Music of the Night' from `Phantom', such a hit in his Southampton Princess show of three years ago, has been restored to his repertoire this time around.

Supporting Ken Dill and Steve Dupres were Raymond Burch on bass and guitar, and an energetic Charles Taylor on drums.

This is a show that relies on old favourites -- and it works, unless you're expecting Bob Marley et al. On the debit side, a two-hour show without a break is on the long side. Gene Steede and his group do produce an evening of solid, easy entertainment, however, with enough variety to attract both tourists and locals.

Patricia Calnan GENE STEEDE -- A survivor of what is possibly a dying breed.