Guardian Cryptic 27,606 by Crucible

by

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27606

That took me considerably longer than average to finish the blog, although a substantial part of the time was spent on one clue, 9A LION – not on the answer, but in the hunt for the wordplay. For once, I not only spotted the theme, but did so in time for it to help me with some of the answers. The theme is musicals, some given whole, but many indicated by a single salient word. I list FIDDLER on the ROOF, SOUTH PACIFIC, LION King, EVITA, CATS, Kiss me KATE, BILLY, The PHANTOM of the Opera, GIGI, Funny GIRL, HAIR, A CHORUS Line, The PRODUCERS and Jerry SPRINGER: The Opera. But then things get complicated. If my desperate stab at wordplay for 9A is correct, I should come up with 15, and my list is 14 long. How about The GEISHA, a story of a tea-house, a 1896 British musical comedy? HARRUMPH, the Musical? Not really. And there are some ambiguities, for example PACIFIC Overtures, and several GIRL musicals. My list encompasses 16 lights, so that is oversubscribed. I think I must be on the right track (at least, I cannot think of any other explanation for 9A), but what exactly was Crucible’s intention, I am not sure. I do not think that CREAM down the right side has anything to do with anything. THere are so many thematic lights that I have used different colours for the acrosses and downs. Anyway, an interesting and challenging crossword, and it would be very satisfying if only I could sort out the theme.

Across
7 FIDDLER Cheat plays field, nicking diamonds and rupees (7)
A charade of FIDDLE, an envelope (‘nicking’) of D (‘diamonds’) in FIDLE, an anagram (‘plays’) of ‘field’; plus R (‘rupees’).
8 PACIFIC Drink annually provided by one in cricket club (7)
A charade of PA (Per Annum, ‘annually’) plus IF (‘provided’) plus I (‘one’) plus CC (‘cricket club’). ‘Drink’ in the sense of sea. A very big one.
9 LION Top one of 15 is one of 15 (4)
I think that the first ‘one of 15’ refers to the theme, which, with a little goodwill, indicateses 15 musicals, of which the LION King is the ‘top’ grossing so far. Does the SUPERBOWL count as a musical?
10 SUPER BOWL Big game‘s excellent winger (5,4)
A charade of SUPERB (‘excellent’) plus OWL (‘winger’), for the annual apotheosis of commercialism and American football.
12 EVITA She showed some initiative in revolution (5)
A hidden (‘some’) reversed (‘in revolution’) answer in ‘initiATIVE‘, for Eva Peron (and the musical), with an extended definition.
13 OHMMETER Device for electricians makes them more nervous (8)
An anagram (‘makes … nervous’) of ‘them more’.
15 CATS Men in cabarets strip off (4)
A subtraction: ‘ca[bare]ts’ minus BARE (‘strip off’ – that is, ‘strip’ as a verb, to bare), for the vintage jazz term.
16 SOUTH Not at home during quiet quarter (5)
An envelope(‘during’) of OUT (‘not in’) in SH (‘quiet’).
17 KATE She‘s eliminated artist from unarmed combat (4)
A subtraction: KA[ra]TE (‘unarmed combat’) minus tRA (‘[has] eliminated artist’).
18 A LA CARTE Consumed about city vehicle offering many options (1,2,5)
An envelope (‘about’) of LA (‘city’) plus CAR (‘vehicle’) in ATE (‘consumed’).
20 BILLY Boys now and then nurse sick goat (5)
An envelope (‘nurse’) of ILL (‘sick’) in BY (‘BoYs now and then’).
21 HOOK-NOSED Pulled over lad running round with beak (4-5)
An envelope (‘over’) of NOS, a reversal (‘running round’) of SON (‘lad’) in HOOKED (‘pulled’).
22 EZRA Pound for a book (4)
Double definition: EZRA Pound, the poet, and the book in the Old Testament.
24 RIVULET Burn fuel occasionally in entrance (7)
Doubly duplicitous: ‘burn’ as a noun, a stream, and ‘entrance’ as a verb, to mesmerize. An envelope (‘in’) of UL (‘fUeL occasionally’) in RIVET (‘entrance’)
25 PHANTOM Spook horse in show with mike (7)
An envelope (‘in’) of H (‘horse’) in PANTO (‘show’) plus M (‘mike’, radio alphabet).
Down
1 GIGI Show privates one after performance (4)
Definition and two wordplays: GI is a ‘private’,  so, whimsically, GIGI is two of them; and a charade of GIG (‘performance’) plus I (‘one’).
2 ADENOIDS Poster girl’s getting over old breathing restriction (8)
An envelope (‘getting over’) of O (‘old’) in AD (‘poster’) plus ENID’S (‘girl’s’).
3 GEISHA Judge is having to defend hostess (6)
A hidden answer (‘to defend’) in ‘judGE IS HAving’.
4 HARRUMPH Rising cheer welcoming politician’s preparation to speak (8)
An envelope (‘welcoming’) of MP (‘politician’) in HARRUH, a reversal (‘rising’ in a down light) of HURRAH (‘cheer’). I associate HARRUMPH with an expression of disapproval, but it is a clearing of the throat, which may be a ‘preparation to speak’.
5 PILOSE Sailor comes into fortune with plenty of 21 (6)
An envelope (‘comes into) of OS (Ordinary Seaman, ‘sailor’) in PILE (‘fortune’). The reference is to 21D HAIR.
6 GIRL Miss large equipment being erected (4)
A reversal (‘being erected’ in a down light) of L (‘large’) plus RIG (‘equipment’).
11 PRODUCERS Impresarios botch up records (9)
An anagram (‘botch’ as an imperative) of ‘up records’.
12 EMAIL Message held up in parliament (5)
A hidden (‘held’) reversed (‘up in a down light) answer in ‘parLIAMEnt’. Much to setter’s relief, the word no longer has to be hyphenated.
14 ENTRY No introduction needed for elite competitors (5)
[g]ENTRY (‘elite’) minus uts first letter (‘no introduction needed’).
16 SPRINGER Vocalist enlists pair that should raise game (8)
An envelope (‘enlists’) of PR (‘pair’) in SINGER (‘vocalist’), for breeds of hunting dogs – in full, (English or Welsh) springer spaniels.
17 KILKENNY Sort English news in Kentucky county (8)
An envelope (‘in’) of ILK (‘sort’) plus E (‘English’) plus NN (‘news’ – cf. 1D) in KY (‘Kentucky’), for the county of Ireland. Hard cheese for anyone who can reel off the Kentucky counties – all 120 of them.
19 CHORUS Refrain in Switzerland or America (6)
A charade of CH (‘Switzerland’ IVR) plus ‘or’ plus US (‘America’); ‘refrain’ musically.
20 BUDDHA New growth had damaged idol (6)
A charade of BUD (‘new growth’) plus DHA, an anagram (‘damaged’) of ‘had’.
21 HAIR Shock personnel keeping fit (4)
An envelope (yes, for a four-letter answer! ‘keeping’) of AI (that is, A-one, ‘fit’) in HR (Human Resources, ‘personnel’).
23 ROOF Top that’s hit in anger (4)
Double definition. For once, I spotted the theme in time to help me here.
completed grid

67 comments on “Guardian Cryptic 27,606 by Crucible”

  1. Very enjoyable. Slightly surprised 6d wasn’t ‘king. Haven’t done the adding up it inspired by your shortfall to have another look. Thanks PeterO. And Crucible.

  5. Funny Girl?

    I loved this. Pilose and Rivulet last in-took a while finishing. Great setting.Thanks for blog too Peter O.

  6. Yes, I agree with NeilW, that was the explanation for the second 15.

    Spotted the theme after I had EVITA and SOUTH, which suggested PACIFIC, though I couldn’t completely parse that one; so thanks for the help there, PeterO.

     

    And thanks to crucible for what I though was an easier than usual crossword.

     

  7. Thanks both – I did have difficulty parsing a few, but it was fun … .  I had another read for the second ‘1 or 15’ – just that a lion is a cat.  OTOH, rugby reads a little better.

  8. A very enjoyable crossword – I do love to find a superb owl in a crossword – and (Baerchen to note) I spotted the theme!

    Thanks to Crucible and Peter O

  9. I completely missed the theme – not unusual – but now you point it out, Peter, I think the 15th may be HOOK.

    Thanks to setter and blogger.

  10. Couldn’t solve 24a RIVULET, 5d PILOSE or 21d HAIR, so very disappointed with myself, especially as I saw the theme. Also needed help with some of the parsing. Well done to those who got it out!
    Thanks Crucible and PeterO.

  11. Thanks both.
    I thought that LION was “Top one of 15” (across) = top cat = LION plus “one of 15” = a British LION

  12. For a Crucible, this one took me longer than normal … with some answers I could not parse satisfactorily until I came here. Thank you Peter and Crucible for a good morning’s workout. PILOSE is a new word for me

  13. Lovely puzzle – loved the theme.

    EVITA is a very old crossword friend but I’ve not seen a better clue than this one.

    I agree with NeilW and Shirl re LION [but it’s British and Irish lions now].

    Many thanks to Crucible for lots of fun and happy memories and PeterO for a great blog.

  14. Penny dropped for theme with 15ac, which was LOI, so didn’t check for 15 musicals (agree Stella@9 count HOOK) – but I didn’t think of rugby.  I’m sure Nimrod deliberately included both interpretations of the clue.

  15. Thanks Crucible; good setting to fit in 15.

    Thanks PeterO; I thought PACIFIC for drink was a bit of a stretch; sea, yes, or type of drink perhaps.

    Rivulet was very clever and only revealed to me with all the crossers.

     

  16. Thank you Crucible and PeterO.

    Lots of fun.  I think the Edwardian musical The Geisha must be the 15th, it had the second longest run of any in its time, with Jerry SPRINGER being a tease.

  17. I can’t reel off the other 119 counties of Kentucky (who knew there were 120?) but the coal-mining Harlan County is well known.  There was a wonderful documentary in 1976, called Harlan County USA, about a miners’ strike.  I still remember footage of the mine owner at a court hearing saying there was no medical evidence that coal dust in your lungs is bad for you.  It also features traditional music from the music-rich area, sung by regional musicians.  I’ve also just found that you can watch it on line.  Maybe I will.

    ADENOIDS aren’t a breathing restriction, though they can cause one.  They’re glands.

  18. This was a bit like yesterday’s Nutmeg – not the toughest puzzle from this setter but plenty of challenge to keep me interested throughout. Like PeterO and others I thought RIVULET was a very clever clue, I didn’t parse LION, I did get the theme (which helped convince me about PACIFIC) and PILOSE was a TILT and loi. Many thanks to PeterO for the excellent blog and to Crucible for the impressive puzzle.

  20. Didn’t think of the ocean as “the drink” but googled and found a Pacific Cricket Club in London. Why are they so named?

  23. Hard work but some wonderful clues, including RIVULET, SUPER BOWL and PACIFIC. I agree with Valentine@17 about ADENOIDS. Many thanks to C & P.

     

  24. Simon S @21, Well spotted, but I don’t think Benjamin Britten would be too pleased – BILLY the musical is also based on the book Billy Budd by Herman Melville…

  25. Have just finished! One of the best puzzles in quite a time, and it took me ages to spot the theme. I loved Superb Owl! I’m part of a small business called THE REAL OWL BREWERY!

  26. Thanks for all the theories on LION – I couldn’t parse that one. Enjoyed the challenge and learnt a new word in PILOSE. Spotting the theme a third of the way through definitely helped with the rest, even though it is far from being a specialist subject.

    Thanks to Crucible and PeterO

  28. PS Panda @27, so did I before Simon S posted @21, perhaps there are 2 Billy musicals accounted for and Jerry SPRINGER is just a tease …

  29. Thanks to Crucible and PeterO. An enjoyable musical tour.  I too thought of Billy Elliot (and Lion King?) and struggled with PILOSE and KILKENNY, though I did remember HR-Human Resources from previous puzzles.

  30. Thanks Crucible and PeterO

    I really enjoyed this without spotting the theme (though “Phantom of the Opera” did cross my mind as I entered PHANTOM as LOI). The theme makes it even better!

    Favourites were EVITA (great clue, as Eileen says), RIVULET and EMAIL.

    I got CATS from the wordplay without seeing the definition. The only clue I didn’t like was ENTRY – loose in both definition and wordplay.

    [Cookie – I responded to your query on yesterday’s thread eventually!]

  31. Really enjoyed this and the theme was the icing on the cake. Some pretty hard clues including PILOSE and the very sneaky RIVULET which was my last in. I did manage to make sense of LION.

    Well worth the hour and a bit it took me

    Thanks to Crucible and PeterO.

  33. NNI @32

    I actually “Checked” CATS twice, as I was so surprised that it seemed to be right I thought that I must have clicked on the wrong button!

  34. Clearly I’m out of step with the consensus but I don’t see how managing to fit a few words from a long list into the grid is worthy of special praise, surely the skill is in the clueing? This has some fantastic clues but also some less fantastic clues that tend to be for themed answers, so, aside from giving a big hint in places I wonder how much the theme has compromised the setting process (e.g. would 1 and 9 have made the final edit on any other day)

    4 and 24 were favourites and 12d was neat, would have liked to have seen 8 and 23 without seeing 16 and 7 first.

    Thanks to Crucible and PeterO.

  35. I am intrigued that so many don’t understand drink = sea. This must be a nautical thing. My father, a wartime Royal Navy man, often referred to the sea as “the drink”

  36. @Shirl, 35

    “I ditched in the drink” = “I crashed into the sea”; perfectly common and fair enough. “The drink” = “the sea”. I’m not sure it works without the definite article though.

    (ps, waves @crypticsue)

  38. Shirl @35 – I didn’t think people were questioning “drink=sea”, but “drink=ocean”, and a particular one at that.

  39. I do not see anything like a consensus on 9A. I had not considered the Rugby version, which seems hopeful, except that I think that plain “The Lions” would refer to the League team. Would a player on the Union team be called a Lion? I do not know.

    As for the thematic interpretation, I dismissed HOOK because, unlike the others, it is embedded in the answer. I think I would still go with my first choice, GEISHA (really my only one – the other suggestions were frivolous), even if it was from a different age than the others, and now rather more obscure.

  40. PeterO @39

    I think that the posters who came up with the rugby reference for LION (not including me!) are correct. Yes, a player who has played for the British and Irish Lions is thereafter referred to as a “Lion”.

  41. Thanks to PeterO and to Crucible.  Well, that was horrible, I couldn’t get onto Crucible’s wavelength at all and had to admit defeat halfway through.  That’s life !  I have to say though that I was amused to see the old chestnut of “superb owl” again, no more than a week after it appeared in the BBC quiz show “Impossible.”   You won’t be surprised to hear that I did get that one.   I agree about “Lion” and British Lions, even though I didn’t solve that clue. I feel doubly stupid as I did consider Rugby Union when I saw “15” appear twice in the clue, but still got nowhere !

  42. Thanks to Crucible and PeterO.

    Not entirely my cup of brew although I enjoyed SUPER BOWL and EVITA conjoined with EMAIL which got me starting.

    I feel there may be confusion PeterO@39, (although it might be me)(probably is), but the reference to 15 in LION does not indicate that there are 15 musicals, one of which is/might be the Lion King: rather it just defines a Rugby Union player (“one of 15”) with cross-reference to CATS to give the wordplay.

    PILOSE was a new one on me – now to work it into a conversation: (“And may I say, M’lud, how very …..”)

  43. That was fun and great grid filling.

    [said someone who is absolutely not a fan of this ‘musical’ genre – I always find it odd that people start to sing when they should talk to each other]

    I actually did see a couple of musicals in recent years, ‘Sunny Afternoon’ and ‘All or Nothing’, but you can hardly call these musicals – and, perhaps, that’s what I liked about them, apart from some superb 60s & 70s music.

    We weren’t sure about LION (9ac) but not the only ones today either.

    Did anyone else notice that Crucible had three hidden answer clues and that these were connected (3d, 12ac, 15ac). Bit unusual.

    Last ones in, for us, PHANTOM (25ac) and ROOF (23d) – two real aha moments!

    Many thanks to PeterO & Crucible [so no Last Night of the Proms puzzle this year?]

     

  48. The use of “drink” reminded me of my favourite Araucaria clue of all time:  “Some say sea – demon some say”.

     

     

     

     

  50. robert @37, I m not into musicals at all, I saw South Pacific when I was aged 10,  Gigi when I was 16 and Fiddler on the Roof at some point in time, but that is all and I am now 76…

  52. NNI, Chambers gives as one of the definitions for CAT (def. no 10): “A man, chap (slang)”. That must be it, nothing to do with jazz (as the blog suggests).

    I have to admit that I had my doubts too (not having a dictionary at hand).

  54. Occasionally Crucible comes up with an awful puzzle. This is without doubt the worst he has produced to date.

    Surely the editor should have binned this one?!

  56. In America, we don’t “hit the roof”, we “hit the ceiling”. Like I did when I finished the entire puzzle without noticing the theme!!!

    I did enjoy the 3-part clue to GIGI.

  59. Scrub that. I’ve just had it explained to me.

    I think I was looking for something deeper to make it your ‘favourite Araucaria clue of all time’

  60. Robert@37, yes. Billy was a reasonably long-running West End musical in the early seventies based on Billy Liar. Starred Michael Crawford, then Roy Castle when Crawford left. Lots of familiar names in the supporting cast including a young Elaine Paige. But not Peter Bowles: he walked out because he thought Crawford was (to put it mildly) a right one. Which, given Bowles’s own reputation, must have made Crawford a right one indeed! I think the lyrics were by Don Black, no idea who wrote the music. I’m not going to look it up to check – I’m old enough to regard that sort of thing as “cheating”.

  61. Great crossword – if I had spelled Buddha correctly I would have got 25ac a lot quicker!  I also think Hook might be number 15.

    I was just wondering why “to defend” in 3d points to a hidden answer?

  62. vikingson @61

    ‘To protect’ might have made it clearer, but the idea is the same: one can defend or protect something by surrounding it with expendable material.

  65. Valentine @64

    I think it is the fact that the answer to those three were hidden in the clues and the three answers are connected to each other on the crossword grid – the end of 12a and 3d and the start of 12a and 12d.

    I’d wondered about 12a and 12d being of the same sort of clue but had missed that 3d was also linked.

  66. Only just came back to this and,sort of, managed to complete it with the exception of EZRA which I didn’t realize I hadn’t put in. I didn’t enjoy this much and I had abandoned it but bloody mindedness kicked in. I only saw that there was something of a theme when I came back to the puzzle. I might have got GIGI rather more quickly had I seen the theme earlier but I’m not sure it would have helped otherwise.
    Ho hum

  67. Thanks, Sil and Bogeyman. I’ve chwcked and it’s in my version of Chambers. I can confidently say I never heard of it in the 60’s, and if it’s slang then perhaps the clue should say so.

Comments are closed.