families -- bounces back into the limelight this weekend, when the first programme in Bermuda's annual `Mini-Festival' of children's theatre gets underway at the Southampton Princess. The season opens with `The Suzy and Uncle Joe Family Show', the brilliant musical comedy show which hilariously takes the lid off family life. Pointedly billed as "suitable for all ages'', the humour is universal, as is the music which earned the duo of Gina Bastone and Calvin Cairns such instant hits as `Me and My Mommy Lied' and `Cartoons'.

This festival is not just for kids! Their show, which has been applauded all over Canada, has been described by The Globe and Mail as "violently funny'', Gina Bastone as "a walking, talking cartoon'', and the Georgia Straight as "the best of the best''. In Vancouver, said the Sun, "They sold out every show and had audience members asking where they could see it again.'' In this delightful show, Suzy drives her Uncle Joe to the very brink with her endless round of questions that really have no answer: every child (and certainly every parent!) can identify with a child such as Suzy who wants, quite innocently, to know from her long-suffering uncle, for instance, why it's okay for Winne to be named "Pooh''.

Formed by Paula Maguire as a result of what might be termed her impassioned belief that children deserve the very best in theatre, Kidfest has become a highly popular annual event on the entertainment calendar.

"One of the aims of Kidfest,'' explains Mrs. Maguire, the former dancer who appeared for ten years in TV's The Nickleodeon Show, "is to bring the community's youth closer and closer to the performing arts. I wanted Bermuda's children to experience for themselves the thrill of live theatre. Now, if you are going to do that, you have to be sure that it's the very best theatre because what children see at an early age makes an indelible impression and affects them for the rest of their lives. It sets a standard of excellence that will never leave them. Especially these days, when children spend so much time gazing silently at the TV set, live theatre is more important than ever, widening horizons and, besides teaching them standards of excellence, teaching them how to interact.'' Confident that her long experience and exposure to the theatre in her career as a dancer has enabled to understand better than most, the value of the arts in our lives, Mrs. Maguire says, "I have come to realise that all branches of the performing arts speak volumes on what is actually happening in our society. It's especially exciting right now,'' she adds, "as there is the sense that today's society reflects tomorrow's direction as we approach the millennium. More and more, people are finally realising that the arts are not a luxury, but an essential, both socially and academically.'' Paula Maguire's meticulous and exhaustive planning of every season is quite deliberate. "I plan each year very carefully,'' she explains, "because I am really planning a meal! And just as our mothers told us to eat everything on our plates, I would like children to step out of themselves and try everything on my theatrical plate!'' Future programmes, for instance, include `Janjungo Ba', a group of American and African performers who celebrate with dances, acrobatics, stilts and music, the Gold Kingdom and the Mali Empire of French West Africa; Desrosiers Dance Theatre's production of `Pinocchio' and comedy great, Al Simmons in `Celery Stalks at Midnight', his musical variety show which was named as Canada's best children's album at the 1996 Juno Awards.

`The Suzy and Uncle Joe Family Show' features two of Canada's most accomplished performers.

Gina Bastone was for ten years, the lead performer in the world-famous `Cirque Du Soleil'. She was also lead performer in Twentieth Century Fox's `Showfest 91' in Los Angeles, and she won a Canadian theatre award for `best performance' in `Map of the Senses', and for `The No. 14' for Touchstone Productions.

Through years of performing, teaching and writing comic acting, she created a new style of comedy theatre which introduced the traditional, European-style clown character into mainstream theatre. Her recent decision to team up with the gifted Kalvin Cairns has brought them both even more success.

Canadian-born Cairns is a gifted musician who plays violin, piano, concertina, accordion, musical saw, Celtic harp and even a Bowed Psaltry (as well as a collection of percussive instruments).

Mrs. Maguire says she is "very grateful and greatly encouraged'' by the assistance given by The Phoenix Stores every year and the sponsorship, this year, from Cat Limited, X.L. Insurance Company and Renaissance Reinsurance.

"It is through this wonderful financial support of our patrons that Kidfest is able to continue to bring the very best of children's entertainment to Bermuda.'' `The Suzy and Uncle Joe Family Show' will be presented on Sunday, January 12 at the Southampton Princess at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets at $15 are on sale at The Bookmart, Upper Level of the Phoenix Centre on Reid Street.

TIME FOR A LAUGH -- Gina Bastone and Calvin Cairns present The Suzy and Uncle Joe Family Show in this year's first Kidfest programme, this coming Sunday at the Southampton Princess.