Quick Cryptic No 137 by Flamande

I found this a very pleasant, accessible puzzle when I wandered through it in 9 minutes. As usual when I blog the word play I find bits and bobs which may cause problems to newcomers (e.g. 20ac) but on the whole I think our setter has been kind to us today.

Enjoy!

Definitions are underlined.

Across

1 Top entertainer from Ramsgate, originally (8)

&nbsp &nbspMEGASTAR - Anagram (originally) of RAMSGATE.

5 Performs in another comedy that's successful at the start (4)

&nbsp &nbspACTS - First letters ( at the start) of Another Comedy That's Successful.

9 Almost axe Irish singing group (5)

&nbsp &nbspCHOIR - Axe (CHOp) without the last letter (nearly) plus Irish (IR).

10 Try swallowing entire onion-like plant (7)

&nbsp &nbspSHALLOT - Try (SHOT) containing (swallowing) entire (ALL).

11 Impressionist painter’s room refurbished (12)

&nbsp &nbspIMPERSONATOR - Anagram (refurbished) of PAINTER'S ROOM. Thought this might be the name of an impressionist painter to start with but our setter (kindly) saved us from trying to dredge up some long forgotten or never heard names.

13 A couple of cents service charge (6)

&nbsp &nbspACCUSE - A (A) couple of cents (CC) service (USE - as in put into service/use).

15 Missing worker has caught terrible disease (6)

&nbsp &nbspABSENT - Worker (ANT) around (has caught) terrible disease (BSE).

17 Novel souvenir of seaside trip (8,4)

&nbsp &nbspBRIGHTON ROCK - The novel is a murder thriller by Graham Greene. Some rock from Brighton could be a souvenir from a seaside trip - but wouldn't be a too pleasant one if kept for too long in a hot car on the way home.

20 Two bishops joining Salvation Army at far end of church … now? (7)

&nbsp &nbspSABBATH - Two bishops (BB) after (joining) Salvation Army (SA) at (AT) last letter (far end of) churcH. The ... and ? show this is a possible example of when bishops and Sally Army could get together as the definition.

21 Superior meal with no starter (5)

&nbsp &nbspUPPER - sUPPER without the first letter (no starter).

22 Noble Lear, ruined (4)

&nbsp &nbspEARL - Anagram (ruined) of LEAR.

23 Was female at university a kitchen employee? (6-2)

&nbsp &nbspWASHER-UP - Was (WAS) female (HER) at university (UP).

Down

1 Manager initially wants top-class staff in office (4)

&nbsp &nbspMACE - First letter (initially) of Manager top-class (ACE).

2 Good opportunity for someone at wedding (5)

&nbsp &nbspGROOM - Good (G) opportunity (ROOM - as in room to manouvre).

3 Vastly superior ways shown by a school principal (7,5)

&nbsp &nbspSTREETS AHEAD - Ways (STREETS) a (A) school principal (HEAD).

4 Help given in class is timely (6)

&nbsp &nbspASSIST - The answer is in the clue (given in) clASS IS Timely).

6 Girl of firm character, mostly (7)

&nbsp &nbspCOLETTE - Girl's name - firm (CO) character (LETTEr) without the last letter (mostly).

7 Wet day at the weekend, and clergyman's forgotten hat (8)

&nbsp &nbspSATURATE - Day at the weekend (SATurday) clergyman (cURATE) without the first letter (forgotten hat).

8 Artist is victorious in local election? (12)

&nbsp &nbspGAINSBOROUGH - Someone or party victorious in a local election can be said to gain a borough.

12 Roast meat briefly, and cover with fat when cooking (8)

&nbsp &nbspLAMBASTE - Meat (LAMb) without the last letter (briefly) cover with fat when cooking (BASTE).

14 Mountaineer rose, perhaps? (7)

&nbsp &nbspCLIMBER - Rose could perhaps be a climber - along with ivy etc.

16 Kid beginning to understand a book of the Old Testament (6)

&nbsp &nbspJOSHUA - Kid (JOSH) first letter of (beginning to) Understand a (A).

18 Something added to sauce for a lark (5)

&nbsp &nbspCAPER - Double definition - made my own tartar sauce for the first time recently - was quite surprised how easy (and tasty) it was.

19 Before surgical procedure, doctor offers small amount to drink (4)

&nbsp &nbspDROP - How many (like me) went first for PREP and then couldn't justify the word play? On sober reflection it's surgical procedure (OP) with doctor (DR) before it.