sentences:  The Regent eventually lay unused for 26 years.Entrepreneur David Marriner, who had earlier restored the historic Princess Theatre (Melbourne), bringing the new breed of musical theatre the Melbourne, proposed a complicated deal to the Melbourne City Council and the new State Government led by Jeff Kennett which involved the restoration of the theatre for musicals in return for developing a large hotel on part of the City Square, itself proposed for redevelopment.The State Government would purchase a half share of the theatre, with the money going to the refurbishment, while Marriner's purchase price for half the square from the Council would also go to the refurbishment, which ultimately cost $25 million.