Cross, author of farces close to stage (8)
I believe the answer is:
traverse
'cross' is the definition.
(I know that cross can be written as traverse)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for traverse that I've seen before include "In mountaineering, a steep slope to be crossed from side to side" , "Extend or bridge across" , "Move across" , "Cross sideways" , "get across" .)