Cirrus@Austlit

Buggins ruminates on a recent instance of sectarianism in Sydney before turning his attention to the Irish-born playwright Dion Bouciault (Senior). Buggins contends that Boucicault's Foul Play (first performed at the Holburn Theatre, London, on 28 May 1868) bears marked similarities to the French play Le Portefeuille Rougge. Buggins observes that Boucicault has lately complained that other writers have been 'making use of the plots of his dramas'. Surely, says Buggins, Boucicault 'could not have been engaged at the very time of filching' from the works of others.

Lastly, Buggins provides a general round-up of Sydney amusements from the previous week, noting particularly the productions at the Prince of Wales Opera House including Thomas William Roberton's Caste, John Augustin Daly's Under the Gaslight and, especially, John Oxenford's East Lynne.