Comments on: Financial Times 13,631 by Gozo

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 23:52:03 +0000

Thanks PeeDee.
An unusual puzzle which I needed help to complete.The pairing at 1/4 being the one that defeated me.
I guessed BULLEN and still didn’t twig that it was an alternative(probably original) spelling of Boleyn.
DERCETAS is hardly well known,a grand total of 5 lines in A + C.
This puzzle was fine for a one off,but I think I prefer a normally clued puzzle.

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:06:03 +0000

I must add that though I think the result ended up a bit unbalanced, I’m all for innovative ways of setting crosswords, and full marks to Gozo for trying out a variation with the theme.

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:01:40 +0000

According to this page the in the Folio Shakespeare spells the name both ways.

By: walruss

walruss — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:54:36 +0000

Obviously not an essential element of the drama. As has been said, I found this lop-sided, but I do remember so fondly Gozo’s Tribute to Araucaria, the Magnificent One, so I am very forgiving on this! Come back, Gozo!!

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:34:29 +0000

Tony
I should have said whichever page you were consulting was wrong. The following Wikipedia page has Dercetas:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antony_and_Cleopatra#Characters

It is interesting to note that a new RSC production of Antony and Cleopatra which opens in the Swan Theatre tomorrow night does not include Dercetas in the cast list.

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:59:44 +0000

Tony @5
It is the entry in Wikipedia that is wrong (not for the first time!). The character in Antony and Cleopatra is Dercetas as indicated by Anax in comment #1 and Eileen at #3.

By: Tony Welsh

Tony Welsh — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:44:47 +0000

Thanks, Chaz. Never come across that but it makes some sense. Ton means “tone” but I think “bon ton” means something like “good taste.”

By: Chaz

Chaz — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:37:51 +0000

Hi Tony,

Ton can be defined as style, mode or fashion. A French import I think.

By: Tony Welsh

Tony Welsh — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:14:55 +0000

I think 1/4 is a mistake. According to Wikipedia the character is DERCATUS with a U, so the anagrams don’t work. btw, I could never have finished this without the help of Wikipedia’s list of Shakespearian characters. Cheating I know, but it was still hard work and at least maybe I learned something.

Also, I must be dense but why is fashion=TON???

By: Prolixic

Prolixic — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:29:11 +0000

Very clevery done to fit all the characters in the grid in this way but sadly it became something of a letter lottery for me trying to make up meaningful names from the anagram fodder with the checking letters and then hunting for the names on-line. A a few attempts, it became tedious and I stopped.

I enjoyed the down clues though!