LAT Mon. 9/10 Melanie Miller

[magus]

Possible Title: Since Brevity Is the Soul of Wit

Theme: all first words of phrases can mean diminutive.

Good Ones:
Ask for a hand on one knee   PROPOSE [“a" knee might be better]

By the Way:
Singer LaBelle or LuPone   PATTI [what about “the singing rage, Miss Patti Page”? OK, too old.]

SHORT, BRIEF, and SMALL are theme answers that can describe CAMEO APPEARANCE; COMPACT is also a theme entry, but we don’t use “compact” to describe a “cameo appearance.”  So, the theme cannot be modifiers of CAMEO, which I think was the intent given that CAMEOAPPEARANCE is central in the grid and the longest entry.

Some Nits to Pick:
SIETE

RATING:    Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun