Stephen Sondheim by Al Hirschfeld
————————
January 30, 2011
ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz
This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from “Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes” by Stephen Sondheim, a compendium of the lyrics from his first musical, Saturday Night (1954), to Merrily We Roll Along (1981), along with his commentaries and observations.
The quotation: THERE ARE PLENTY OF FRESH RHYMES STILL TO BE FOUND THE PROBLEM IS ONE OF APPROPRIATENESS THE SITUATION HAS TO JUSTIFY THE RHYME I ONCE RHYMED LET PAPA SIT WITH OPPOSITE BECAUSE I HAD A SCENE INVOLVING A DINNER TABLE
The author’s name and the title of the work: SONDHEIM FINISHING THE HAT
The defined words:
A. Edna Ferber’s Cotton Blossom, for one, SHOWBOAT
B. In the style of the fabled “fat lady”, OPERATIC
C. Comic play with many openings and closings (2 wds.), NOISES OFF
D. Like Scotch eggs and hush puppies (hyph.), DEEP FRIED
E. W.S. Gilbert’s pair for “a lot o’ news”, HYPOTENUSE
F. Olympian whose goal is touching, EPEEIST
G. Pitched with accuracy (2 wds.), IN TUNE
H. 1920’s moaner billed as “Mother of the Blues” (2 wds.), MA RAINEY
I. Type of which Betty Boop was a caricature, FLAPPER
J. Proportioned like a determined climber of song (hyph.), ITSY BITSY
K. Epitome of condensation, NUTSHELL
L. Keep playing with no regard for the score, IMPROVISE
M. Be the wrong kind of booster, SHOPLIFT
N. Really big pan? (2 wds.), HATCHET JOB
O. Components of any eight-eight, IVORIES
P. Someone just starting to learn the ropes, NEOPHYTE
Q. Lender of theatrical dazzle, GLITTER
R. Lovett’s culinary co-conspirator, TODD
S. Something that may fall in a dramatic moment, HUSH
T. Admission; delight, ENTRANCE
U. Surname of the pop musician Beck, HANSEN
V. Country band that recorded “Mountain Music”, ALABAMA
W. Satirist who paired “try an’ hide” with “cyanide” (2 wds.), TOM LEHRER
————————
Click on image to enlarge.
Puzzle available on the internet at
