No 13817, Monday 20 Mar 2023, Afterdark

Solution to 28A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

1   Nothing, casting in play is interesting (11) FASCINATING {FA}{CASTING+IN}*

9   Son rushed back to ER with southern hunters (7) SNARERS {S}{RAN<=}{ER}{S}

10 Pretty timid monkey with long head trapped (7) SHAPELY {SH{APE}{Long}Y}

11 Substance is fluorine, she split up (5) FLESH {FL}{SHE*}

12 To break down a smallest item is enervating primarily (9) ANATOMISE {AN}{ATOM}{IS}{En...g}

13 Good and gifted actor (5) GABLE {G}{ABLE} Semi&lit

15 Inflammation? Come in, after one take first tablet and a second later (9) ENTERITIS {ENTER}{1}{Ta...t}{1}{S}

18 Coaches without current delayed? Explain (9) TRANSLATE {TRAiNS}{LATE}

21 Trouser generally contains twilled fabric (5) SERGE [T]

22 Flash singers apart from Henry, worried after catching cold (9) CORUSCATE {ChORUS}{ATE} over {C}

24 Leading stuntman replaces female in fight scene (5) SIGHT (-f+s)SIGHT

26 Expression of defiance for drunkard at this place (2,5) SO THERE {SOT}{HERE}

27 Prevailing trend is a song about escape (1,2,4) A LA MODE {A}{ODE} over {LAM}

28 Building sets, second without third quarter and rent for auditions (6,5) S?R?E? T?S?S (Addendum - SCREEN TEST {SETS+SECond+RENT}* - See comments)

DOWN

1   Search results in return gift inside, time for a scrap (9) FISTFIGHT {FIS{GIFT<=}H}{T} What's the role of 'Results in'?

2   Post opinion after first screening (5) STAKE {TAKE}<=>{Sc...g}

3   Fresh cheese, it's common in Antarctica (3,6) ICE SHEETS {CHEESE+ITS}*

4   Lower idiot's years to avoid abuse essentially (7) ASSUAGE {ASS}{abUse}{AGE}

5   Second at home, laurel say on tabletop (7) INSTANT {IN}{STAN}{Ta..e}

6   Sources from government; use ammonium sulphate, NPK, organic fertilizer (5) GUANO Acrostic

7   Wild tigers primarily enumerated by top rangers in journal (8) REGISTER {TIGERS*}{En...d}{Ra...s}

8   Data unit near outskirts of Thane (4) BYTE {BY}{ThanE}

14 Worked on bail right? Reportedly so for a socialist perhaps (8) BLAIRITE {BAIL*}{(~right)RITE}

16 Again second? Not new being defiant (9) RESISTANT {RE}{S}{InSTANT}

17 Plant is beautiful, peasant killed insect (9) SWEETPEAS {SWEET}{PEASant}

19 A friend at Ulsoor, heartless and non-professional (7) AMATEUR {A}{MATE}{Ul..oR}

20 One third of side sacked, worried on advance (7) ELEVATE {ELEVen}{ATE}

22 Growth is pacy, strong, collected (4) CYST [T]

23 Say instructions for glasses (5) SPECS [DD]

25 Large total (5) GROSS [DD]

Reference List

Nothing = FA(Fanny Adams), Son = S, Southern = S, Good = G, Second = S, Current = I, Henry = H, Female = F, Drunkard = SOT, Escape = LAM, Time = T, Near = BY, Again = RE, New = N, Worried = ATE