Crossword Genius

Player, reluctant, eviscerated in classical drama (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

north

'player' is the definition.
(bridge players are called north, south etc)

'reluctant eviscerated in classical drama' is the wordplay.
'eviscerated' suggests removing the centre (the word is disembowelled of its inside letters).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'classical drama' becomes 'noh' (type of Japanese drama).
'reluctant' with its middle removed is 'rt'.
'rt' inserted within 'noh' is 'NORTH'.

(Other definitions for north that I've seen before include "Former statesman" , "Former PM" , "Boreas was the god of the - wind" , "Bridge position" , "Boreal; South's opposite" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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