Will there, won’t there be a theme to Phi’s offering this week?
Actually yes, four of Will’s characters from Shakespeare’s play (in the nina across the bottom row) appear in the grid (in green below).
Has Phi deliberately included the entries at 12, 15 and 21ac to refer to the main event of the play?
| Across | ||
| 8 | Monster caught early Saint, getting one imprisoned (7) | |
| CALIBAN | C (caught) ALBAN (St Alban – 3rd / 4th century saint) round or ‘imprisoning’ I (one) | |
| 9 | Early curtailment of angry argument producing sadness (6) | |
| SORROW | SOR |
|
| 10 | Cut back, restricting first of local celebrations (6) | |
| REVELS | SEVER (cut) reversed or ‘back’ round or ‘restricting’ L (first letter of ‘local’) | |
| 11 | Director to do well around timeless film locations? (8) | |
| SCORSESE | SCORE (do well) around SE |
|
| 12 | Set out, drifting into small piece of Pacific? (3,2,3) | |
| PUT TO SEA | An anagram of SET OUT (anagrind is ‘drifting’) in PA (first two letters, or ‘small piece’ of ‘pacific’) | |
| 14 | Stops losing time over middle of day? That’s smart (6) | |
| DRESSY | RES |
|
| 15 | Shocking weather circles Metro with added bit of tension, possibly (8,5) | |
| ELECTRIC STORM | An anagram of CIRCLES METRO and T (‘bit of tension’) – anagrind is ‘possibly’ | |
| 19 | Dozing snake seen around shelter (6) | |
| ASLEEP | ASP (snake) round LEE (shelter) | |
| 21 | Odd bits of life completely evident in end of sea journey (8) | |
| LANDFALL | L AND F (odd letters or ‘bits’ of LiFe) + ALL (completely) | |
| 24 | Grain worldwide initially involved in standard economic competition (5,3) | |
| PRICE WAR | RICE (grain) W (first or ‘initial’ letter of ‘worldwide’) in PAR (standard) | |
| 26 | Trainers with disapproving comments about soldiers (6) | |
| TUTORS | TUTS (disapproving comments) round OR (‘other ranks’ – soldiers) | |
| 27 | Treasurer‘s hoarse whisper about it (6) | |
| BURSAR | BURR (hoarse whisper) round SA (sex appeal – ‘it’) | |
| 28 | Care about artist – a magician’s daughter (7) | |
| MIRANDA | MIND (care) round RA (artist) + A | |
| Down | ||
| 1 | Held out with excuse, ditching former lover? That’s the plan (8) | |
| SCHEDULE | An anagram of HELD and |
|
| 2 | Court about to animate heartless defendant, in lawyer’s view (6) | |
| CLIENT | CT (court) round LI |
|
| 3 | Takes down American military set-ups (6) | |
| ABASES | A (American) BASES (military set-ups) | |
| 4 | No introduction of an extra burden (4) | |
| ONUS | ||
| 5 | A drink’s about to be sold? Pretty much (2,4,2) | |
| AS GOOD AS | A SODA’S (drink’s) round GO (be sold) | |
| 6 | Magician supporting whirling ropes (8) | |
| PROSPERO | PRO (supporting) + an anagram of ROPES – anagrind is ‘whirling’ | |
| 7 | Sitting up, disregarding one source of sibilant sounds (6) | |
| NOISES | SES |
|
| 13 | Almost everyone swallowing drop of rum (that is, a spirit) (5) | |
| ARIEL | AL |
|
| 16 | Duty to involve Queen in military operation (8) | |
| EXERCISE | EXCISE (duty) round or ‘involving’ ER (Queen) | |
| 17 | Water and mop would do for this parasite (8) | |
| TAPEWORM | An anagram of WATER and MOP – anagrind is ‘would do for’ | |
| 18 | Shops cut short pleasant experience leading to harm (8) | |
| MALTREAT | MAL |
|
| 20 | Come up to rabbit on about river (6) | |
| SPROUT | SPOUT (rabbit on, as in talk a lot) round R (river) | |
| 22 | Note male abandoning responsible character (6) | |
| NATURE | N (note) |
|
| 23 | Beds? Fine hoaxes seeing removal of head (6) | |
| FUTONS | F (fine) |
|
| 25 | Incline to batter front of portcullis (4) | |
| RAMP | RAM (batter) P (first letter or ‘front’ of ‘portcullis’) | |
Thanks B&J – I’m sure 12, 15 and 21 are intentional. Other Tempest references I found (not all from memory):
– Brimful of SORROW and dismay
– Our REVELS now are ended
– Be not afeard; the isle is full of NOISES
Thank you Phi and Bertandjoyce.
Great fun – Prospero MALTREATs Ariel and Caliban, Miranda is charmed ASLEEP, Caliban ABASES himself and, digging around like Andrew, I also found
– My foot my TUTOR
– All things in common NATURE
Got the theme for once, and early on, although despite getting PROSPERO I struggled a bit with the NE corner. Nevertheless, all very enjoyable – brought back memories of studying the play for O level English all those years ago.
Thanks, Phi and B&J.
REVELS, NOISES and ‘Our little life is rounded by A SLEEP’ deliberate. 12, 15 and 21 accidental, honest. Still the anniversary year, so there may be more Shakespeare to come one Friday.
Have fun with today’s Listener.