EV 813 Dramatis Parsonae by Mango

[midazolam]

Here is this weeks enigmatic variations

Likely to be a challenge - so have a go!

To any EV solver!

I am undertaking the statistics for the Telegraph EV. This is because several people find the timeframe until submission too short and in my opinion there have been some crosswords harder than the listener. It would be interesting to see these statistics and depending on the results may influence this timeframe.

I could never reach the echelon of J Green and it must be stressed I don't submit the EV and never will do. So I have no interest other than seeing how we fair.

E-mail a scanned copy/reconstructed typed grid or a list of the answers with the info of the required theme to [email protected] by 6pm on the Wednesday after the EV (i.e. last post). However please e-mail me whenever you have finished as they will be invaluable to the statistics.

Just use any alias and not your name (if you don't want to) or home address. As we generally do with the listener threads � hints and tips only on the threads. Comments are most welcome and I will copy this every week, so spread the word.

Regards Midazolam

[Christiana]

Thanks for the EV Link

[Seth Mould]

There is a bar missing in the grid under 8dn.

[Rapparee]

Thanks for the link, Midazolam.

This one's got to be tougher than last week's!

And thanks for the warning, Seth.

[crofter]

Hi midazolam,

I agree with missing bar and the extra level of difficulty.

I am a relative newcomer to EV solving. I have tackled the last 30 EV grids and have failed to complete only 5 of these. Another 5, I have submitted but later learned that they were incomplete or contained an error.

Another 10 were completed well before they were due for posting with little on no help. The remaining 10 were only completed following hints and help from AB and posted off by Wednesday's post.

I accessed the last two grids from AB on Saturday evening and had them completed before the clock struck midnight.

This current EV is presenting me with a serious challenge!

I hope that these comments help you with your survey.

[novalis]

Really struggling this week. Have six clues still to do
( among which are 41a for which I'm trying to justify explore and 42a for which I'm trying to justify grenadier ). It's getting very frustrating but, as it's the last EV I'll be able to give any proper attention to for the next five weeks. I'm determined to finish it.

[midazolam]

i started it tonight and likewise have not finished yet - i see many of the seven can be D or R

right on both accounts novalis: 42 across misprint is weaker and 41 across is display with lecturer inside and note on the end

[Christiana]

Thanks for those explanations Midazolam - I was struggling with 'explore', too, though I have a lot more than Novalis still to do and may not have the stamina to complete it. Not giving up yet though.

[ladyalex]

I'm not clever enough to do the Listener or Enigmatic Variations. But if I did, I would wonder how everyone else FARED, not FAIRED.
Tut, tut!

[midazolam]

thank you for pointing that slip up ladyalex - i will adjust accordingly next week

[novalis]

Thank you for the confirmation midazolam. Unfortunately I've not had chance tro have another look at it sinse yesterday evening but am just going back to it.

Ladyalex - hope you see this. With the superb answers you come up with I doubt EV and Listener are beyond you.

[novalis]

Even sinCe yesterday evening!!

[crofter]

After much effort, I am down to the last four clues to solve (before tackling the thematic conflict, etc)!

One that is annoying me is 23 across

Warm and dry, a house in Provence lacking land (3)

I have S A _ already but I am starting to doubt their correctness! Have I gone wrong somewhere?

[Christiana]

Got more than you to do, Crofter, but also have sa for 23 across

[novalis]

Crofter, I have sa for 23a and, I hope, the answer for 16d which gives the final letter. Like you I'm still pondering 4 clues 36a, and 25, 37 and 37d. It's becoming frustrating -- or I can't see the wood for the trees.
16d - remove stin+changed letter from sanctimony then anagram.

[Christiana]

Hi Novalis. I had 18d but couldn't work out 23, even with all the letters in and thought perhaps it was something to do with the thematic conflict

[midazolam]

36a is another word for the second meaning of rig and yalta is the misprint
25d the misprint is calm (which is the def part) and the four bridge opponents are taken away from a word
37d the misprint is quote - the answer being scottish

you said 37 twice

[midazolam]

sorry going mad not the 4 bridge opponents!

which one is the anagram?

[novalis]

Thanks for that Midazolam. Should have been 39d.

[novalis]

Thank you for that. Should have been 39d.

[midazolam]

yes i am stuck on 39d - i am wondering if it is the anagram