Listener 4027: Command Performance by Centigram

[midazolam]

Centrigram gives us this weeks listener with a very nice denouement (better than squaring the circle last year)

Although the across anagrams makes it tougher than the clues actually are, there is a pleasing finish.

I know many do not like Listener's with anagrams, but sometimes they are necessary to make a more pleasing denouement, and I think this is a justifiable example.

[AHearer]

With the across anagrams, could one say there was a lot of luke-warm solving involved? Since when did the Listener compilers believe in giving us the answer on a plate?

[Walterloo]

Yes, a pleasing puzzle with a nice finish. I thought the across jumbles were tricky but not too much of a challenge to make me think I was going to struggle for long. And it's always a good thing to surf the net and learn about a subject you weren't completely familiar with in order to finish. Thanks Centigram (and Wikipedia).

[Mr Crossy]

Do you think we need to shade anything? I was wondering about "suitably supported".

[robinruth]

Well, we have made unusually promising headway so far but feel that those across jumbles make the solving of the down clues 'semi cold solving'. We too are finding some of the across jumbles 'tricky'. We have found 25, which, of course, makes the rest of the down solving easier. We are not sure, yet, just how far we have to obey the implied instruction about 'discarding' in the preamble. More work to do!

[Mr Crossy]

Or rather, "appropriately supported".

[starwalker]

All fairly straightforward with a nice, unambiguous finish and nothing to shade or colour in.

[Mr Crossy]

Thanks, starwalker. That was my inclination, too, but I'm glad you agree.

[kwyjibo]

Hmm bit too easy this I suspect. I've been doing it for about half an hour, solved 10 down clues and frm that guessed the missing words, the theme, 25 across and the final denouement.

[robinruth]

Completed with absolute delight at the denouement but I have one slight ambiguity which I hope to express without giving too much away. In order to 'appropriately support the 'other isolated cell' I need to make a minor adjustment to one of my jumbles - and it is no longer an anagram of the solution. Is that sort of adjustment allowed? Thanks, as usual, for advice - the support.

I wish I had found it as easy as you all did. I was almost pipped by the occasional wicked clue.

[AHearer]

robinruth, I didn't need to make the sort of adjustment you describe. Also, I agree that the highlighter should remain in the drawer this week.

[robinruth]

Thanks, AHearer, I had misconstrued the anagram using the wrong end of it and an ungrammatical definition - and had an L for an R - just careless and stupid of me.

[Apache4D]

Haven't started this yet, due to a week away with work meaning that I couldn't start 4026 Elitism till last night.......Have just finished it, enjoyed it immensely, though still struggling to find the thematic link with the second phrase......

Anyhow, onto 4027 now, hopefully I'll catch you guys up!

[robinruth]

Apache 4D, re last week - if you have found the second phrase, the thematic link is there, right in front of you to read, on two lines higher up. It took me a while to see it, when it was perfectly obvious.

[IntoTheBlue]

I liked this one. A puzzle that can be solved in about 3 hours with good thematic material and an unambiguous ending that doesn't leave you wondering whether you've missed something.

Still can't quite see the wordplay to 5d but as all letters cross not a problem.and I'm assuming that the 'us' of 42a is supposed to sound like 'oz'.

IntoTheBlue

[robinruth]

Totally agree with you Into The Blue about 5d - all the letters are confirmed by other clues but I haven't a notion about the wordplay. In 42 ac, I assumed that I had to use the A of the answer to make the US into OZ. (but there was no container indicator). I am also mystified about the wordplay of 12 ac but of 12 possible words (without the last letter) two fit the definition and both require the same last letter.

[turnerjmw]

I enjoyed this too, IntoTheBlue. Not everyone has ten hours to spare every week, and it's always good you are in no doubt when you've found the denouement. I agreed about 42a, and thought that 5d worked through the removal of the last word from the second

[robinruth]

- and, of course, in writing my last response, I realized how clever 42ac. actually is - the container is implied - it is in AUS isn't it?

[turnerjmw]

robinruth, the first definition in Chambers of the penultimate word of 12a might help.

[robinruth]

Thank you, turnerjmw! I believe I have now understood all the wordplay - quite unusual for me - must be thanks to Centigram's clueing - and your help.

[turnerjmw]

You're most welcome, robinruth. I'm sure you're right about 42a too. I too was led down the Oz path.

Like you (I think), I've only started trying these in the last year, and I must say, as someone who for years before looked at the preambles with blank incomprehension, I've found these threads invaluable when I'm completely stuck. I don't send the puzzles in, so I don't feel I'm cheating anyone, but if I've now improved to the extent I can finish the great majority, albeit with an occasional nudge, that's all down to the help on here. And, to be frank, I probably wouldn't have stuck at it otherwise.

So long may these threads continue, with sensitive hints which don't give everything away (I hope mine aren't too clumsy), particularly as far as the theme might be concerned