No 13974, Wednesday 20 Sep 2023, Dr. X

Solution to 22D 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Volcanic rock in a den discovered on location (8) ANDESITE {A}{DEN*}{SITE}

5   Sluggishness of degenerate knocking back wine endlessly (6) TORPOR {ROT<=}{PORt}

10 Character chasing my ship, primarily a pirate (7) CORSAIR {AIR}<=>{MY}{Ship}

11 Fan not starting, getting technician (7) ARTISAN pARTISAN

12 Renegade is threatening to abduct rational believer (5) DEIST [T]

13 Fighting with woman lying to frame Liberal (9) WRESTLING {W}{REST{L}ING}

14 Fail to impress as absence of blanket in winter will do? (5,3,4) LEAVE ONE COLD [DD]

18 Bar girl with close-fitting garment ensnaring men, caught red-handed (4,2,6) BANG TO RIGHTS {BAN}{G}{T{OR}IGHTS}

21 Star in rave-up on drugs ultimately collapses (9) SUPERNOVA {RAVE+UP+ON+drugS}* Semi&lit

23 Husband enthralled by peg starting to exuberantly laugh (2-3) TE-HEE {TE{H}E}{Ex...y}

24 One with mask holding butt of rifle - freeze! (3,4) ICE OVER {1}{C{riflE}OVER}

25 Delicate time with a cult rioting around - start to flee (7) TACTFUL {T} and {A+CULT}* over {Flee}

26 Effusive person brought back blanket to cover female (6) GUSHER {RUG<=} over {HER}

27 Decorating a party by noon in club (8) ADORNING {A}{DO}{R{N}ING}

DOWN

1   Scoundrel caught in time over gallery (6) ARCADE {CAD} in {ERA<=}

2   Skin's turning scarlet, young lady avoids sun (6) DERMIS {RED<=}{MISs}

3   Most skimpy dress - nice stats! (9) SCANTIEST*

4   Reject disgruntled voter having hot argument with committee (5,9) THROW OVERBOARD {T{H}{ROW}OVER*}{BOARD}

6   Musical group in old club, wanting second audition (5) OCTET {O}{C}{TEsT}

7   Model at one party starting to neck Greek god (8) POSEIDON {POSE}{1}{DO}{Neck}

8   Study to gather information about English outlaw (8) RENEGADE {RE{GEN<=}AD}{E}

9   Assume freak got drunk and raged (4,3,7) TAKE FOR GRANTED {FREAK+GOT}*{RANTED}

15 Station wagon, say, in contest coming up (6,3) ESTATE CAR {STATE} in {RACE<=}

16 Associate on bhang is going berserk! Embarrassing (8) ABASHING {A}{BHANG+IS}*

17 New American president welcomed by excited press photographers (8) SNAPPERS {S{N}{A}{P}PERS*}

19 Quick look by female entering bar on island (6) SHUFTI {SHU{F}T}{I}

20 Flyer's woe in Japan, breaking a leg outside bar (3,3) JET LAG {J} and {A+LEG}* over {T}

22 Endless gala featuring posh theatrical show (5) R?V?E (Addendum - REVUE {REV{U}El} - See comments)

Reference List

Woman = W, Liberal = L, Girl = G, Men = OR, Husband = H, Peg = TEE,  Time = T, Party = DO, Noon = N, Hot = H, Old = O, Club = C, Second = S, English = E, Associate = A, New = N, American = A, President = P, Female =F, Island =I, Japan = J, Bar = T, Posh = U