Crossword Genius

Stage action, oddly smooth (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

legato

'smooth' is the definition.
('legato' can be similar in meaning to 'smooth')

'stage action oddly' is the wordplay.
'stage' becomes 'leg' ('leg' can be a synonym of 'stage').
'oddly' means one should take alternating letters.
The alternating letters of 'action' are 'ato'.
'leg'+'ato'='LEGATO'

(Other definitions for legato that I've seen before include "(Music) without breaks between notes" , "Smoothly, musically speaking" , "In music, in a smooth even manner" , "Don't play roughly" , "Musically smooth" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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