THE NEW " POLLY."
Miss SHIRREFF appeared on Thursday in Polly, and with the success we anticipated. The native beauty of the airs in the Beg- gar's Opera can only be effectively given by singers who will study their date and real character, and not attempt to overlay old Eng- lish simplicitv with modern embroidery. Miss SniaREFF's execu- tion of them 'bespoke the acquaintance of her instructor with this style of dramatic music : it was precisely what it ought to be; her ornaments, for the most part, being well chosen and well placed, and not impertinently and indiscriminately thrust in. Her voice has acquired the firmness and power which practice on the stage gives; and her performance was, on the whole, very satisfactory. There are two faults in Miss SHIRREFFS shin inn, which, on her first appearance, we were inclined to ascribe to the tremor usually incident to such a situation ; but a- se:.ond hearing satisfies us that they would be as prominent were there no audience. Her articulation is often embarrassed and faulty; and her shake wide and imperfect. To the cure of these defects, her instructor will do well to address his earliest endeavours.
BRAHAM was the Macheath of the opera. It never was one of his best characters,—INCLEDON is not yet forgotten; and while his singing in the part retains any hold of the . public recollection, it never will. He is, by far, the best Macheath of the present day; but that is not saying much for BRAHAM. Mrs. KEELEY sung and acted with all the spirit of a vulgar vixen, and was a- most ex- cellent Lucy. The house was crowded,—as it generally is on Miss SSIRREFig nights.
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