Smooth one from Scintillator. Although there were a couple of words I hadn't seen before, the wordplay was clear enough to get them. I've highlighted the theme words - works of Shakespeare.
ACROSS
1 A scam and an outcry (6) RACKET (DD)
4 Somewhere in market, some naughty monkey (8) MARMOSET (SOME* inside MART)
9 Old Roman king is an usurper, reportedly (6) CAESAR (~SEIZER)
10 Softly handle odd facial feature (8) PHILTRUM (P + HILT + RUM)
12 New pact designed to include old SA city (4,4) CAPE,TOWN (NEW PACT* outside O)
13 Dwarfs in a group of three weeping on way back (6) PEEWEE (T<=)
15 Odd aspects of exam/test worries (4) EATS (ExAmTeSt)
16 Dramatist in trouble with rather awry interludes (10) PLAYWRIGHT (PLIGHT outside AWRY*)
19 Practicality of wandering tramps and magi (10) PRAGMATISM (TRAMPS MAGI)*
20 For the most part, study about king (4) LEAR (LEARn)
23 It could be farcical to approach deputy (6) COMEDY (COME + DY)
25 Mark’s novel is totally fresh (5-3) BRAND-NEW (BRAND + NEW)
27 Businessman’s posh car hasn’t lost its essential part (8) MERCHANT (MERC + HAsNT)
28 European in very pleasant European city (6) VENICE (E inside V + NICE)
29 Partly snipe Ninja countered in skittle (8) NINEPINS (T<=)
30 Longs for decapitating evil women (6) ITCHES (wITCHES)
DOWN
1 Recover to pedal once again? (7) RECYCLE (RE + CYCLE)
2 Agitate or placate a Queen (9) CLEOPATRA (OR PLACATE)*
3 Rational reflection about court orders (6) ENACTS (SANE<= outside CT)
5 Uncovering secret treasure: it could be painful (4) ACHE (cACHEs)
6 Trim burry elm fruit (8) MULBERRY (BURRY ELM)*
7 Mum about wife:: “She is a troublesome woman” (5) SHREW (SH + RE + W)
8 Worker set out in violent storm (7) TEMPEST (TEMP + SET*)
11 One of a dozen cutting one’s left with after getting drunk (7) TWELFTH (LEFT WiTH)*
14 Examine offensive rose scar (7) EYESORE (EYE + ROSE*)
17 Time-keepers cheering with dances (9) GREENWICH (CHEERING W)*
18 Tickled maid’s haunch in the middle (8) AMIDSHIP (MAIDS* + HIP)
19 He may sell a pellet-swallower in video-games, say (7) PACKMAN (~PACMAN)
21 Nudity, a natural state (7) RAWNESS (DD)?
22 Purpose of changing last bit in decimal (6) INTENT (IN + TENs(+T))
24 Married or attached to jerk? (5) MORON (M + OR + ON)
26 Without a name // in the near future (4) ANON (DD)
ACROSS
1 A scam and an outcry (6) RACKET (DD)
4 Somewhere in market, some naughty monkey (8) MARMOSET (SOME* inside MART)
10 Softly handle odd facial feature (8) PHILTRUM (P + HILT + RUM)
12 New pact designed to include old SA city (4,4) CAPE,TOWN (NEW PACT* outside O)
13 Dwarfs in a group of three weeping on way back (6) PEEWEE (T<=)
15 Odd aspects of exam/test worries (4) EATS (E
16 Dramatist in trouble with rather awry interludes (10) PLAYWRIGHT (PLIGHT outside AWRY*)
19 Practicality of wandering tramps and magi (10) PRAGMATISM (TRAMPS MAGI)*
20 For the most part, study about king (4) LEAR (LEAR
23 It could be farcical to approach deputy (6) COMEDY (COME + DY)
25 Mark’s novel is totally fresh (5-3) BRAND-NEW (BRAND + NEW)
27 Businessman’s posh car hasn’t lost its essential part (8) MERCHANT (MERC + HA
28 European in very pleasant European city (6) VENICE (E inside V + NICE)
29 Partly snipe Ninja countered in skittle (8) NINEPINS (T<=)
DOWN
1 Recover to pedal once again? (7) RECYCLE (RE + CYCLE)
2 Agitate or placate a Queen (9) CLEOPATRA (OR PLACATE)*
3 Rational reflection about court orders (6) ENACTS (SANE<= outside CT)
5 Uncovering secret treasure: it could be painful (4) ACHE (
6 Trim burry elm fruit (8) MULBERRY (BURRY ELM)*
8 Worker set out in violent storm (7) TEMPEST (TEMP + SET*)
11 One of a dozen cutting one’s left with after getting drunk (7) TWELFTH (LEFT W
14 Examine offensive rose scar (7) EYESORE (EYE + ROSE*)
18 Tickled maid’s haunch in the middle (8) AMIDSHIP (MAIDS* + HIP)
19 He may sell a pellet-swallower in video-games, say (7) PACKMAN (~PACMAN)
21 Nudity, a natural state (7) RAWNESS (DD)?
22 Purpose of changing last bit in decimal (6) INTENT (IN + TEN
24 Married or attached to jerk? (5) MORON (M + OR + ON)
26 Without a name // in the near future (4) ANON (DD)
SOLUTION GRID
Just got back after the Cross country run of my schools Sesquicentennial celebrations, managed to finish 86th out of a field of 320 participants.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that there are no comments!! Today I think has been the first time since I started this blog that I have not done the CW, couldn't attempt it as I left at 6 for the run.
:-)
ReplyDeleteGreenwich was very nice.
ReplyDeleteOn the whole, a very enjoyable CW, though 'Philtrum'was totally new and could not get even with help from wordplay & crossings. Probably since I could not decide on "P" or "Sh" for silently.Def. a contestant for "Is there a word for this" list!
Thank you Bhavan, for highlighting the Shakespearean connection. I did not spot it.
ReplyDeleteNice one from Scintillator. Back to hogging Samosas.
ReplyDeleteBut doctor is missing!
ReplyDeleteHi hi hi. back here after a long sabbatical. i look fwd to the day when i retire to enjoy simple things in life like completing the crossword. @ ramesh, no, no samosa today. couldn't complete the grid. have a great day, every one
DeleteABCDE. Nothing to make a _ squirm today ?
ReplyDeleteExcessively proper one's cautious but lacking books (5)
Crude rhyme ....
DeleteGoing for class today not a change of hand ...
:)
DeleteI wasn't even hinting at change of hands ( Now I do not know how to interpret change of hands ;)). Easy one & a sitter for you. I picked the word & the ABCDE clue phrase from your comment some time back
still clueless.
DeleteTake a look at 10555 & Bhavan's introductory comment there
Delete@RameshJ: Hope the P--D-s have overlooked 18D ;)
Delete:) Missed that one
DeleteBhavan,
ReplyDeleteWhy a ? after 21 D ?
Ajeesh, wasn't sure if rawness=nudity
DeleteManaged this after an initial struggle. Good one. Again didn't spot the Shakespearean connection despite being familiar with them! Might have made it easier.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: 25D: Mark's...: is the apostrophe s legit?
Yes, in cryptic reading it expands to "Mark has novel"
DeleteYeah, but when you read it fully it won't be really grammatical or smooth?
DeleteYou might find more information and usage of apostrophes here at Shuchi's blog
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteBhala: Yes, your query is valid. The cryptic expansion of "Mark has novel is totally fresh" is not grammatically correct. One encounters this problem on connecting the wordplay and the definition parts (here with an IS). When they are disconnected, the setter has to only worry about the grammar of the cryptic part, which is rather easy to ensure. The following alternative is Ximenean.
Delete- Stigmatise novel that's totally fresh (5-3)
Good to see such interesting questions. I got to be more careful from now on!
Bhavan: Might consider highlighting 'ENACTS' as well? How about 'ANON'?
ReplyDeleteSorry, don't get why they need to be highlighted as well. Are they part of some other Shakespeare works that I missed?
DeleteEnacts fits with the theme of plays, playwright.
DeleteAnd if I am not mistaken, Shakespeare was credited with giving a new lease of life to 'Anon' though I might be wrong
The theme was words in the title of Shakespearean plays, so Bhavan's set was what I had intended. I do think the theme is rather hazy; there must surely a better way to do this theme and it has eluded me during compilation.
DeleteDid not get Philtrum despite having the crossings (new word for me). Liked the puzzle, particularly the Shakespeare references.
ReplyDeleteI picked up the word 'philtrum' recently from an unexpected source - a review of the 2012 film 'Cocktail'. Understandably, the first few comments on the review discuss - not the film or its review - but that curious word.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the theme and the crossword. A happy coincidence with the Shakespeare fest going on at Ranga Shankara this week.
Shuchi, nice of you for having provided us with the link.
DeleteShankar Nag, brother of Anant Nag, was a great actor who died in a road-crash many years ago. This programme is being organized by his wife Arundhati to perpetuate his memory. Wish I were able to attend.
Thanks for the blog, Bhavan. The idea of highlighting theme words is brilliant: it helps setters and solvers to get an idea of the fraction of theme words. Sometimes I feel that some themes do not reach out effectively because of their inherent vagueness. Also not many solvers may be interested in the grid much beyond the solutions: this helps them get an idea as well.
ReplyDelete"Philtrum" is a word I have known for several years.
ReplyDeleteIt differs from person to person. For one it is deep; for another it is not prominent. For some the whole hollow is visible but for others it is deep at one end while the other end is hazy.
I am always distracted by the philtrum of an NDTV news anchor.
OK, talking of body parts and strange names, do you know what a 'canthus' is? This I came across when a doctor gave me an identification mark for a relative of mine. He used the word to locate the said mark.
Received this in mail today. The brilliant brains here should have no difficulty in solving it. Thought of sharing it with you all, since the sentence construction is somewhat in crossword style.
ReplyDeleteI am the centre of gravity, hold a capital situation in Vienna, and as I am foremost in every victory, am allowed by all to be invaluable. Though I am invisible, I am clearly seen in the midst of a river. I could name three who are in love with me and have three associates in vice. It is vain that you seek me for I have long been in heaven yet even now lie embalmed in the grave.
Eleven?
DeleteWould have helped Richard if you gave us poor souls (read me) the number of letters required!
Counted 11 V's and since v is also in the centre of eleven, thought it could be that. Maybe it is just V, not a word?
DeleteV are here
DeleteWell, i think 23 A also qualifies as theme word, from 'Comedy of Errors'.
ReplyDelete