AustLit

Buggins's opening salvo reads: 'At the opera house, the attendance – considering the attraction of legitimate pieces, well mounted and carefully acted, have been disgraceful to the playgoers of Sydney, and proves that the estimate I first formed of their capabilities of appreciating anything in the shape of intellectual amusements, was a correct one. The only good house I have seen in a Sydney theatre during the past twelve months was on the occasion of the production of Jack Sheppard at the Victoria, shortly before the company migrated to the opera house – one of the most disgusting and immoral plays ever written.'

He continues: ' My only wonder is that the management continue to cater for a class that has no existence in Sydney. If plays and dramas of a low and repulsive school are the only ones that will draw money to the theatre, I can scarcely think they (the managers) are justified in working so hard to obtain patronage when it is evident that their labour is useless.'

Buggins then proceeds to discuss the Royal Victoria Theatre production of James Sheridan Knowles's The Hunchback, featuring Miss Aitken in the role of Julia, and also mentions a performance of William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale.

The Empire commends the actors in the Prince of Wales Opera House production of James Sheridan Knowles's The Hunchback on 26 October 1868. The main roles were played by M. E. Aitken and William Hoskins.

An advertisement for the Prince of Wales Opera House production of James Sheridan Knowles's The Hunchback and John Baldwin Buckstone's An Alarming Sacrifice on 26 October 1868.

A performance of William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale is advertised for 28 October 1868.

The Prince of Wales Opera House announces 'a short engagement of seven nights with that distinguished tragedienne, Mrs. J. L. Buntin, professionally known as Miss Aitken'.

Miss Aitken's season commences with a production of King Rene's Daughters and William Henry Murray's Mary, Queen of Scots on 23 and 24 October 1868. The advertisement also notes upcoming productions of James Sheridan Knowles's The Hunchback and William Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale.