It will be a trip down `The Time Tunnel'' when a group of local musicians stage a two-night "oldies revue show'' in Front Street's No. 1 Shed this week.

Drummer Mr. Kevin Maybury says that his company, Slap in the Face Productions, will hold a two-hour entertainment featuring music from the '50s and '60s and including dance routines, comedy and skits.

His seven-piece band and six lead vocalists will perform what he describes as "the perfect pre-Valentine bash''.

Mr. Maybury promises that rock 'n' roll, soul and "everything in between'' will be the order of the day as the artists, dressed in the spivvy outfits of the '50s and the psychedelic gear of the '60s, present a "dazzling, live, fun-filled evening. Anyone who likes music of this period will really enjoy this show.'' Mr. Maybury's group is showcasing its talents, not only for the general public, but in an all-out effort to attract the notice of hotels, cottage colonies, restaurants and pubs.

"We will be presenting a complete entertainment package. I hope this will bring home the fact that we have a lot of talented people here and that we are capable of putting together a complete entertainment package,'' he explains.

He is convinced there is a great wealth of talent in Bermuda that is not being used.

"I believe that our visitors would like to see a real Bermuda show when they come here -- not something that they could see back home,'' he exclaims.

Mr. Maybury, who plays every Sunday with Legacy at the Swinging Doors, acknowledges that some of the Island's performers often need help polishing their acts.

"When I was young, we musicians had the opportunity to train gradually, playing just about every night. But since the hotels closed down the resident bands, it has been very difficult for young people to get the experience -- it's a vicious circle.'' American vocalist Miss Deletta Gillespie, who has worked with the Greg Thompson revues and is acting as his co-producer for the show agrees.

"There is enormous talent here. Sometimes, it's just a matter of giving these people a little practical guidance and helping them to present themselves well,'' she says.

Miss Gillespie, who will take part in the show, is the daughter of show biz parents. Her father played bass in US army bands and her mother played the organ and keyboard for the Shirelles.

The singer, who has performed with top bands in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Seattle, as well as a 24-piece jazz orchestra throughout western Canada, says Bermudians need to understand that it isn't enough to just have a good voice.

"I was at the Katie Agresta Studios in New York which trains all the top vocalists, but I also took dancing and acting lessons at the Paul Robeson Theatre School in Seattle and was with Ballet Oklahoma,'' she says.

Mr. Maybury trained with Clarence (Tootsie) Bean from the age of 15. His music has taken him on tour to some 15 islands in the Caribbean, South America, France, Morocco, New York and Boston. Much of his time is now spent in teaching young musicians, "because I feel it's important to pass on all that I know and to try and encourage young talent''.

He says that since hotels cut back so drastically on live entertainment, he and his colleagues have had to work two jobs.

"The fact that we don't get to play every day and then have to work after doing a day job certainly affects our playing. And on nights when we do play, it means we don't get much sleep!'' Mr. Maybury has a strong group lined up for The Time Tunnel.

Leroy Richardson will play bass with Dennis fox on keyboards and the three-piece horn section will feature Jack Kripl, Carl Schechtman and Kenneth Cox. Edward Christopher will also appear.

Other vocalists appearing in the show include Jamie Zuill, Vance Goater, Carol-Ann Williams, Reid Furbert and Denise Whitter.

The Time Tunnel takes place in the Harbour Room of the No. 1 Shed on Front Street, on Thursday, February 11 and Friday, February 12 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 or $30 at the door. Reservations can be made by calling the City Hall Box Office at 292-2313 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily or 234-8703. Tickets that were not used for the January show will be honoured. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Bermuda chapter of Amnesty International and the Bermuda Hospice.

A TRIP DOWN THE TIME TUNNEL -- Some of the artists who will be appearing in this week's pre-Valentine's bash. Pictured are, back row, from left: Denise Whitter, Jamie Zuill, Carol-Ann Williams, Leroy Richardson, Vance Goater, Kevin Maybury, Deletta Gillespie and, front: Kenneth Cox, left, and R.C.

Furbert.