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Steal the show from leading male character at end of performance (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

upstage

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'steal the show from' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'leading male character at end of performance' is the wordplay.
'leading' becomes 'up' (up can mean winning a sports match).
'male character' becomes 'stag' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'at end of' says to take the final letters.
The last letter of 'performance' is 'e'.
'up'+'stag'+'e'='UPSTAGE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for upstage that I've seen before include "Divert attention from someone towards yourself" , "Take attention from (another actor)" , "Divert attention from another as actor may" , "Divert attention from another as actor might in play" , "Furthest from the audience (in theatre)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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