The Sunday Crossword No 3197, Sunday 10 Apr 2022

Ramnavami artwork by Prasanna

Ramnavami rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

1   Music prone to blast in theatrical feature (10) PROSCENIUM*

6   Apostles' contribution to Scripture, primarily? (4) ACTS Acrostic &lit

9   Performing, a singer – but one full of hot air? (3,7) GAS TURBINE*

10 Gloomy poet retires (4) DRAB<=

12 Absorb costs: that includes unspecified amount, if you catch my drift (4,3,4) TAKE THE HINT {N} in {TAKE THE HIT}

15 Thoroughbred who defected to the West? (7) NUREYEV [DD]

16 Michigan city right to take in alien (7) DETROIT {D{ET}ROIT}

17 Gave power to English knight, one that's exhausted (7) ENABLED {E}{N}{A}{BLED}

19 Bobby, we're told, is a portraitist (7) SARGENT (~seargent)

20 They're fast sportspeople, despite business attire (4,7) PACE BOWLERS {PACE}{BOWLERS}

23 Lean on musical instrument, keeling over (4) ABUT<=

24 'Restrained'? Sadly, I mess about (10) ABSTEMIOUS*

25 'Help!', bishop stifled howls (4) SOBS {SO{B}S}

26 Resting on a streak of foamy water is worrying (5,5) LYING AWAKE {LYING}{A}{WAKE}

DOWN

1   Servant's sheet (4) PAGE [DD]

2   Brown bread, unopened oven (4) OAST tOAST

3   Perhaps Chad irons (perhaps) in leisure centres (7,5) COUNTRY CLUBS {COUNTRY}{CLUBS}

4   Naturalised American - Vladimir, initially - harbouring troublesome book? (7) NABOKOV {Na...d}{Am...n}{Vl...r} over {BOOK}* Semi&lit

5   Disregarded some fun (not educational) (7) UNNOTED [T]

7   Key groups including four subordinate to American Navy Seals? (10) CARNIVORES {C{A}{RN}{IV}ORES}

8   Proxy – but it set us up (10) SUBSTITUTE*

11 Awareness Tom displayed in former sovereign state (7,5) WESTERN SAMOA*

13 Examples of teamwork when party line's neglected (10) INTERPLAYS*

14 Bachelor explored book about odd British component of Scotch egg (10) BREADCRUMB {B}{READ}{C}{RUM}{B}

18 Covered in hair, suffused with bad smell: steady on! (4,3) DOWN BOY {DOWN{BO}Y}

19 Wickedness overcoming the French pastor, model lingered in bed (5,2) SLEPT IN {S{LE}{P}{T}IN}

21 Comfy spot Francis of Assisi hides (4) SOFA [T]

22 Rum, perhaps? Reportedly, Everyman will (4) ISLE (~ i'll)

Reference List

Alien = ET, English = E, Knight = N, Bishop = B, Irons = CLUBS(Golf), American = A, Navy = RN, Bachelor = B, About = C, British = B,  Bad smell = BO, The in French = LE, Pastor = P, Model = T