| DISAPPEARINGACT | Part of a magic show, and the key to understanding this puzzle's one-word clues |
| TURNABOUT | Fair play? ... or the key to understanding the answers to starred clues |
| CARDTRICK | Pain in the neck about errant dart, part of a magic show (4,5) |
| SILENTMOVIE | Talkie predecessor, and a hint to understanding this puzzle's theme |
| TRICK | Part of a magic show |
| WALLOFSOUND | 1960s record production formula, or a hint to understanding this puzzle's edges |
| EDIT | Change, as cross word clues |
| VERBS | Doing word clues (5) |
| ABRA | Part of a magic incantation |
| BACKTOSQUAREONE | Hint for understanding this puzzle's starred answers |
| THELEANING | & 17 Tourist attraction ruined if we angle photos near it [five-word clue] |
| DARKESTHOUR | Film nominated for Best Picture of 2017, and the key to making sense of the answers to the starred clues |
| CLEARTHEBASES | Hit one out of the park, and the key to interpreting the starred clues |
| WHITEOUT | Low-visibility driving condition, and the key to making sense of answers to the starred clues |
| GIF | Oxford American Dictionary's 2012 word of the year, and the key to this puzzle's theme |
| SHADOWBOXES | Trains, in a way, and the key to 18 of this puzzle's black squares. (Ones that begin with the keywor |
| BIRTHDAYPRESENT | It's a gift to those joining The Party and the key to getting into The House perhaps? (8,7) |
| HORIZONTAL | In this puzzle, one is aA€A“ and isn't aA€A“ this! (10) |
| ITSTHEBERRIES | Old expression of admiration (and the key to this puzzle's theme) |
| TURNINGHEADS | Attracting attention, and the key to handling the asterisked clues |
