Pure

[bluepork30]

15d $1000 GIVEN TO John Wayne to portray thematic hero(5,4)G?????U??
17d swept-up hair added to our charm(7)E?A????
19d contention about piano in thematic work(7)????P??
22d low point:distressed and pursued by taxman(5)??D??
thanks in advance

[factor-fiction]

grand something

[scorpiojo]

Grand Duke

[Mamyalynne]

22 Nadir

[factor-fiction]

nadir?

[shaneystar2]

grand duke
enamour
thespis
nadir

[Tilly2]

Grand duke?

[scorpiojo]

17 enamour

[bluepork30]

last two
18a most of bedroom wrecked by unknown thing(8)D?A?E?T?
23a leave horseman (with day fading)more covered in blood(6)?O?I?R
thanks for all you have done and for this

[shaneystar2]

doobrey
gorier

[shaneystar2]

18a is dialects

[BlackadderV]

Interesting that the answers should contain the first and last works of Gilbert and Sullivan. Thespis (now lost) was their first collaboration and The Grand Duke was their last. It was badly received and is rarely performed now.

[shaneystar2]

Yes blackadder , all the clues at one side of the puzzle began with G and on the other side ended with S
Gilbert and Sullivan ..very clever !

[bluepork30]

thanks