Actual boundaries of recital (4)

I believe the answer is:

real

'actual' is the definition.
(I know that actual can be written as real)

'boundaries of recital' is the wordplay.
'boundaries of' suggests removing the centre.
'recital' with its middle taken out is 'REAL'.

(Other definitions for real that I've seen before include "Authentic" , "Certainly no counterfeit" , "'Genuine, actual (4)'" , "Actual, not imaginary" , "Not imaginary, genuine" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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