Richard Suett

Richard Suett
Born	1755 Chelsea, London
Died	6 July 1805, age 50
Nationality	English
Other names	Dicky
Occupation	Actor
Known for	Actor, comedian

Richard "Dicky" Suett (1755–6 July 1805), was an English comedian who was George III's favourite Shakespearean clown, and star at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane for twenty-five years.

Suett was born in Chelsea in 1755, and at ten years of age entered the choir at Westminster Abbey as a pupil of Benjamin Cooke. In 1769 he sang at the Ranelagh Gardens, the Grotto Garden, and at Marylebone Gardens, and was in May 1770 employed by Foote at the Haymarket in some juvenile and unnoted parts. On 24 July 1771 at that house Master Suett was the original Cupid in 'Dido,' a comic opera assigned to Thomas Bridges. Charles Bannister then obtained for him an engagement on the York circuit with Tate Wilkinson, with whom he remained as singer and second low comedian for nine years, at the largest salary Wilkinson ever paid. His first appearance was made on 22 November 1771 in Hull, where he sang a once favourite song, 'Chloe's my myrtle and Jenny's my rose.' Wilkinson thought highly of him, calling him his pupil, speaking of him as about the age of 17, known only from having sung one season at Ranelagh, and pronounced him the possessor of 'a most unpromising pair of legs.' Suett proved 'of real importance' to Wilkinson; at the close of this engagement a further engagement for two years, with a penalty of £100 for forfeiture, was drawn up. On finding, however, that Suett had handsome offers from Linley for Drury Lane, Wilkinson generously destroyed the bond.

Suett's first appearance at Drury Lane took place in October 1780 as Ralph in the 'Maid of the Well.' On 27 December he created a most favourable impression as the original Moll Flagon in Burgoyne's 'Lord of the Manor.' On 9 March 1781 he was the first Metaphor in Andrews's 'Dissipation,' and he was seen during the season as Tipple in Bates's 'Flitch of Bacon.' In Jackman's farce 'Divorce,' 10 November, he was the original Tom; on 13 December the original Piano in Tickell's successful opera, the 'Carnival of Venice;' and on 18 May 1782 the original Carbine in Pilon's 'Fair American.' He also played Squire Richard in 'The Provoked Husband,' Waitwell in the 'Way of the World,' and Hobbinol in the 'Capricious Lovers.' From the records of 1782–3 his name is absent. On 14 November 1783 it reappeared to Marrall in 'A New Way to pay Old Debts.' Suett also played the Puritan in 'Duke and no Duke,' and Grizzle in 'Tom Thumb,' with one or two insignificant original parts in no less insignificant operas, for which his voice, impaired by dissipation, gradually unfitted him. To 1784–5 belong Filch in the 'The Beggar's Opera,' Lord Froth in the 'Double Dealer,' Binnacle in the 'Fair Quaker,' Clown in 'Winter's Tale,' and Sir Wilful Witwould in the 'Way of the World.' He was also the original Sir Ephraim Rupee in T. Dibdin's 'Liberty Hall' on 8 February 1785. To the following seasons are assigned the Clown in 'Twelfth Night,' and Blister in the 'Virgin Unmasked.' Many similar parts were assigned him, including Robin in the 'Waterman,' Dumps in the 'Natural Son,' Lord Plausible in the 'Plain Dealer,' Snip in 'Harlequin's Invasion,' Allscrap in the 'Heiress,' Trappanti, Mungo, First Gravedigger, Gibbet in the 'Beaux' Stratagem,' Diggory in 'All the World's a Stage,' Colonel Oldboy in the 'School for Fathers,' Obediah in the 'Committee,' Moneytrap in the 'Confederacy,' Launcelot Gobbo, Doctor Bilioso (an original part) in Cobb's 'Doctor and Apothecary,' 25 October 1788, Gardiner in 'King Henry VIII,' Oliver (an original part) in Cumberland's 'Impostors,' 26 January 1789, Bartholo in 'Follies of a Day,' Muckworm in 'Honest Yorkshireman,' Touchstone, Pistol in 'King Henry V,' Booze in 'Belphegor,' Solomon in the 'Quaker,' Thurio in 'Two Gentlemen of Verona,' Old Hardcastle, and Mawworm. He was on 16 April 1790 the original Endless in 'No Song no Supper,' and on 1 January 1791 the original Yuseph in Cobb's 'Siege of Belgrade.'

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