linxit has reported in sick, so I’ve thrown the following last minute blog together.
I’m something of a Beckett nut, so this puzzle was a joy.
Quotation above from “Waiting from Godot”, but could be most people’s review of his work.
ACROSS
1,4 SAMUEL BECKETT – (MUSTTAKECELEB)* He left Dublin to do his best work in Paris, in French.
9 JAMES WATT – JAM = stick : E,S = ends of loosE wireS : WATT = a unit of power. “WATT” is also a Beckett novel : not part of the clue, but can’t believe it’s an accident
10 D(RYE)R
11 ULRIC – moutnfUL RICercata
12 OMELETTES – MELLEe is the brawl, and SET-TO (reversed) around it
13 NASTASE – NAS is Sanitorium abbreviated and reversed with (SEAT)*
15 SUBWAY
17 CO-RR-IE – Company, Rolls Royce, That is. Whole thing is what the unwashed call Coronation Street
19 ME-L(IS-S)A
22 Left out on purpose – hey, I had to work out the anagram, so should you
24 GOGO-L – Twice 25 is 50 = L : Gogo Dancer. Whole thing is a Russian writer
26 LOCKS – Sounds like LOX (salmon)
27 ASHAMEDLY – (HESALADY-M)*
28 YARD-AGE – American football term combining scotland YARD with AGE
29 AS(I)TI(S) – Asti being the nasti drink you get at cheap Christmas parties. THe word “IS” is half inside and half at the end. Cunning wordplay, Mr. Puck.
DOWN
1 SO(JOUR)N – “son” is French from “his” and “jour” is French for “day”
2 MIM-ER – “MIM” is Roman Numerals for 1999, E.R is the TV series
3 EASY CHAIR – as opposed to “Cheesy Air” as Spooner would have it
4 BATTERS – my favourite clue, BATTERS are the two cricketers who are “in”
5 Left out on purpose because I know you can do the anagram yourself.
6 E.G – YPTIANS – (PAYISNT)*
7 T(H)RASH
8 MALONE – Beckett character who is dying. Reference to Molly Malone
14 SPORT-SCAR
16 Another straighforward anagram to leave as an exercise for the reader
18 ENDGAME – Beckett play, Chess ending
19 MURPHY – Beckett novel, type of potato (also slang)
10 ALLE-YES – ELLA (rev)
21 MOLL-O(nl)Y
23 AT SEA – oddly means take the odd numbered letters ArTiStEwAs
24 GOD-OT – DOG (reversed) + OT for Old Testament. Godot never comes in Beckett’s play. Poor Godot …