Strict Instructions by Ares

Puzzle explanation

The misprints in clues spelt out “Riff Raff, Magenta”, the two cast members in The Rocky Horror Show who lead the song The Time Warp. Its lyrics include the refrain:

Let’s do the Time Warp again It’s just a jump to the left And then a step to the right. With your hands on your hips You bring your knees in tight.

Accordingly, LEAP in the grid was moved from the right edge to the left, STEP was moved the other way, PAWS above HIPS was highlighted and 39ac was completed as KNEES in TIGHT. The puzzle was published a few days before the 51st anniversary of the première of the musical’s original London production, at the Royal Court Theatre (Upstairs).

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No (Misprint); correction Answer Explanation
Across
2 (R)od; P SCHOOLWORK SCHOOL + ROW < + K
9   BUOY BUY around O
10 Da(I)’s; D PAPAWS PA’S around PAW
11   BANG UP BAN + PUG <
12   WHIPS W + H + GRIPS − GR
14 (F)ine; L ASSES LASSES − L
15   OSWALD WALDOS with letters cycled; ref. 8dn
16   COUTTS COUNTS with T for N
18 (F)its; W TISWAS WITS * + A + S
19   ORLE L(in)E after OR
21 (R)ot; H KHANS H in KANS
22   SCARCITY S + CAR CITY
24   EMEER (f)REEME(n) <
26 Tar(A); T FLAN F + L + A + N
28   REAVER RE + AVER
30 (F)asted; T IODATE IO + D + ATE
31   USED UP US + ED + UP
32   TAMIL TAIL around M
34 (F)ight; N THING NIGHT *
36   SILENE IS < + L + ENE
37 (M)oat; B ESCOTS (S + COT) in (l)ES(s)
38   IDEA I + D(reamt) + EA
Down
1   ABBA 2 meanings; ref. ABBA song Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
2   SUASORY (ROY WAS + US) * − W
3   CONSUL CONSUL(t)
4 p(A)int; R OPUS O/P + US
5   OPPOSERS PROPOSE * + S
6 (G)ave; W WAW W + A + W
7   RAILWAY R + AIL + WAY
8 H(E)tman; I ASSASSIN ASS + AS + SIN
10   PEST (gra)PE ST(ore)
13   HASH 2 meanings
17   TEAR (sta)TE AR(ena)
19 eve(N); R OVERSTEP (EVER STOP) *
20   ECLIPSES (PIECES + (g)L(a)S(s)) *
21   KILO K + OIL *
22   SEASICK S + CAKES * around I
23   SATINET TIN in SEAT *
25   EVEN 2 meanings
27 la(T)e; M LAMEDH DH after LAME
29 st(A)kes; O RUBS RUB(y) + S
32   TIKI (I + K) in T(ahit)I
33   LEAP APE * after L(ong)
35   GTE G(o)T + E
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