Enigmatic Variations No.1247 – Changing Roles by Samson

The preamble tells us that we are going to be introduced to six fictional characters who, engaged in a common endeavour, are temporarily CHANGING ROLES. What connection will there be between these roles and the cell that is to be left blank?

The additional letters in the wordplay give: BELLOWSMENDER, CARPENTER, JOINER, TAILOR, TINKER, WEAVER

These are the ‘normal roles’ of the mechanicals (‘six fictional characters’) from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, who enact the story of Pyramus and Thisbe (the ‘common endeavour). Their members are:

Francis Flute, the bellowsmender, who plays THISBE
Peter Quince, the carpenter, who plays PROLOGUE
Snug, the joiner, who plays the LION
Robin Starveling, the tailor, who plays MOONSHINE
Tom Snout, the tinker, who plays the WALL
Nick Bottom, the weaver, who plays PYRAMUS

These ‘adopted roles’ are arranged in the grid to depict their positions in the play (with MOONSHINE forming a semicircle), and are to be highlighted. The cell that is to be left blank is the one that would otherwise contain the letters HOLE from SNOWHOLE, and is positioned, appropriately, in the wall.

Notation

(xxx) = definition
[xxx] = (anagram/homophone/container/etc.) indicator
XXX* = anagram
< = reversal
DEER = additional letter

Please post a comment if the explanations are not clear.