REGENT THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 50, 3 March 1928, Page 7

REGENT THEATRE.

Speed Is the essence of the act staged by Owen M'Glveney Just now at the Regent Theatre. For ono man to impersonate five people iii turn in one scene Is no small feat, but when the characters follow each other on nnd off the stage without any imperceptible break one begins to realise. Just how wonderful Mr. M'Glveney's lightning changes are. Taking the sceno from Oliver Twist, portraying tho dramatic events leading up to the murder of Nancy by Sikes, Mr. M'Ulrcney acted in Individual costume the parts of Monks, Fagln, Bill Sikes, the Artful Dodger, and Nancy, and at the conclusion of his performance probably everyone In the audience had decided he was Just "the" slickest quick-change artist ever seen. This may seem exaggeration, but it would be hard to cut down the few seconds, moments almost, which elapse between Mr. M'Giveney's departure as one character and arrival, freshly arrayed, as another. Pola Negri and Cllvo Brook played dramatic parts In a powerful war picture, "Barbed Wire," which s.hows how war puts restrictions—barbed wire—on even all-pcrvacl-lng spirit of love. Mona hated Germans, her brother was fighting them; she was on his side. But one of her own countrymen sought her downfall and a German saved her. Love followed and the censure of the little French village also. Even with the Armistice came no slackening in the wrathful feelings of the neighbours. Either Mona must give up her lover or give up her farm. French girl and German man go out together to face a world of antagonism, but the true spirit of peace is restored by the home-coming of Mona's brother Andre, who with his gentle words, cuts through tho entanglements of lovo and war. Pleasant relief from the tenser moments is provided by the drollery of Elnar nansen as another German prisoner, and tho background of the picture Is very beautiful. A novel entr'acte, "Evolution of Dixie" (Lake), was played with spirit by tho orchestra, and "French Freed" glve3 a clover dog actor a chance to. work n comic mix-up. A cartoon and news budget are tho other supports to the big film and vaudeville act.