QUICK CLUES:

Across

1. Stage furnishings (5) 4. Artist (7) 8. Praise insincerely (7) 9. Bewitch (5) 10. Large jug (4) 11. Rider (8) 13. Merit (4) 14. Impure (4) 16. Hand over (8) 17. Joy (4) 20. Semi-precious stone (5) 21. Colossal (7) 22. Builder (7) 23. Squeeze (5)

Down

1. Discriminate (13) 2. Pursue (5) 3. Roster (4) 4. Rector (6) 5. Cut (8) 6. Obstruct (7) 7. Recollections (13) 12. Expectation (8) 13. Issue (7) 15. Epistle (6) 18. Spear (5) 19. Halt (4)