Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; c 5,by Richard Griffith. Prologue by Richard Tickell (see text). Author of Epilogue unknown]: With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. Public Advertiser, 27 Mar. 1782: This Day is published Variety (1s 6d.). Receipts: #226 9s. 6d. (218/5/0; 7/14/6; 0/10/0)

Event Comment: Paid Tallow Chandler's 4th Bill #41 6s. 5d.; Spermacetti Candles, #132 18s. Mr Tomlinson for Men's cloaths #11 11s.; Mr J. French on acct #20; Miss Hopkins, 15 nights (19th Dec. incl.) #3 15s. (Treasurer's Book). [The sixth edition of Wm. Law's Absolute Unlawfulness of Stage Representations was published this year (1st. edn. 1726) This day was published the Preliminary Number of the Westminster Magazine, which, monthly, included a section called The English Theatre, which observed generally on the state of the Stage, and commented specifically on new plays. Its view of the stage in general was not as sanguine as had been that of the writer for the Town and Country Magazine (1 April 1772). "We are of opinion, that the English Theatre is now in its decline. Whether it is that the stores of Dramatic Subjects or of Dramatic Genius are exhausted, is not immediately obvious; but there is a fault somewhere....We have seen the Morning star of Wit--the Noon too is past; we have now arriv'd at its evening...There is in Arts, as in Empires, a progress which leads to Refinement; and this refinement leads to Ruin." According to the writer the meridian glory of the English stage was during the reign of Queen Anne. Reviewer damns the Irish Widow, refuses to discuss the Gamesters (revived), damns the Rose and praises the Garrick alteration of Hamlet. This year also appeard Granny's Prediction, a 53-page pamphlet attack on Mrs Barry, condemning her on moral grounds (polygamy) and on aesthetic grounds, commenting on each of her characters. By a spiteful female relative Elizabeth Franchetti.] Receipts: #142 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Griffiths, formerly of Drury-Lane Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:00. To begin at 6:00. Tickets delivered by Griffiths for the 27th of February will be taken. Tickets and Places to be had of Griffiths, at the Theatre, every Morning from 10 till 12. Fires are kept to keep the Theatre warm

Event Comment: Benefit for Jacobs, Griffith, Mrs Cross and Mrs Millidge. Paid Master Thomson 11 nights (23rd Inst. incl.) #2 15s.; Black Lyon Bill #3 19s. 2d. (Treasurer's Book). Tickets deliver'd for Benefit of Follett, Mas. Cape, Costin and Miss Berkly will be taken. Receipts: #233 18s. 6d. Charges: #74 14s. Profits to Jacobs, Griffith, Mrs Cross, Mrs Millage: #159 4s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wheeler, Jacobs, Griffith. Tickets deliver'd by Mr Yates and Miss Berkley will be taken. Pd. Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #3 11s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #238 19s. 6d. Charges: #70. Profits to Wheeler, Jacobs, and Griffith: #168 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for LaMash, Griffith, Blurton, and Cubitt. Paid salary list #621 16s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Tickets delivered by Miss Berkley will be taken. Mainpiece: Nor acted these two years. [See 8 April 1774.] Receipts: #57 11s. 6d. Charges: #71 9s. Deficit to La Mash, Griffith, Blutton, and Cubitt: #13 17s. 6d. (Treausrer's Book)

Event Comment: [Extra night] By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Benefit for Griffiths and Fearon. Tickets delivered for Hamlet and a Comedy will be admitted. Tickets to be had of Griffiths and of Fearon at Clay's, Cabinet-maker, Princess-street, Soho

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Griffiths. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. 2nd Gallery 1s. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:30. Tickets to be had of Griffiths, No. 3, Southampton-buildings, Holborn; at the Royalty Coffee-house, Well Close Square; King's Arms, Leadenhall-street; Band Coffee-house; Sun-tavern, Foster-lane; Grotto, Southampton-buildings; Angel, St. Giles's; Cock and Bottle, Upper Brook-street; Nag's Head, Carnaby-market; One Tun, St. James's Market; Fox's Coffee-house, Bow-street; the Go, the Jump, and the Finish; and of Rice, at the Theatre

Event Comment: Benefit Griffith, from the Theatre Royal in Dublin. By Command of his Royal Highness the Duke

Event Comment: Benefit for Redman, R. Smith, Mrs Griffiths and Miss Ferguson. Tickets delivered out by Hurst, Paddick, Miss Cokayne &c. will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for Moody and Griffith, acted only once these three years. Tickets deliver'd for the Committee, Romeo and Juliet, and A Play will be admitted

Event Comment: By authority from the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for Davis, Griffith. To begin exactly at 6 p.m

Event Comment: Positively the last night but one of Mr Foote's company performing this season. By permission of the Lord Chamberlain. A new mock Tragedy of three Acts. Tickets delivered out by Davis and Griffiths will be taken. Twenty box Tickets for the above mock Tragedy being taken out of a lady's pocket at Marybone 27 Aug., those sold at the doors will not be admitted

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Last time This Season. Benefit for Griffith, prompter

Event Comment: Benefit for Chaplin, Griffiths, Holcroft & Miss Field. Tickets delivered by Stevens, Collins and the Miss Stageldoirs will be taken. Receipts: #253 8s. (30.5; 13.7; 2.22.12; tickets: 207.4) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. By Desire of the Most Noble Order of Bucks. Benefit for Griffith. [Author of Epilogue unknown.] Tickets delivered for November 22 and for The West Indian will be admitted. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15

Event Comment: [In Afterpiece Elizabeth was originally called Miss Doiley.] Receipts: #238 (191.7.0; 44.18.0; 1.7.6; tickets not come in: 0.7.6)

Event Comment: [Mrs Siddons's 1st appearance as Queen Elizabeth was at Liverpool, 10 Sept. 1777.] Receipts: #317 9s. 6d. (334.2.6; 36.2.0; 1.2.0; ticket not come in: 0.3.0)

Event Comment: "...Richard III, which I saw performed at Drury-lane theatre at the beginning of the present season...The dresses of the characters which here make their appearance are in the usual half-and-half mode, made up from portraits of Charles I's reign, and from unrestrained fancy. Richard's habit, indeed, shews a faint hint, at the costume of his day; but how modernized! A fancy cap and feather,with a milliner's white-ribband rose, sewed thereon. A deep ruff, of that make not known until the reign of James I From the neck depends a ribband With the George: this decoration never seen in paintings till about the fashions of the abovementioned monarch's court. On his legs and feet, white silk stockings, white shoes, and red roses. These latter ornaments unknown before Elizabeth or James I's modes of dress prevailed; at any rate, they should have been white ones to have accorded with the party-badge in his cap." Writer signing himself "An Artist and an Antiquary" in Gentleman's Magazine, Apr. 1800, p. 319. Receipts: #225 16s. 6d. (178.3.6; 47.12.0; 0.1.0)

Event Comment: Publish'd. The Actor: A Treatise on the Art of Playing, interspers'd with Theatrical Anecdotes, Critical Reflections on Plays, and Occasional Observations on Audiences. Printed for R. Griffith. Receipts: #60 (Cross)

Event Comment: 2nd piece: Not acted these 6 years. [Miss Griffiths is identified in European Magazine, June 1798, p. 397, and in playbill of 19 June.