Shhh!!   Don’t say a word. Or maybe I should say don’t say a letter. This week’s puzzle is titled “Quiet Down” and the theme is on multiple levels.

First, we have hints at 19a [Absolute quiet] – NOT A SOUND and 65a [Utterly quiet?] – VOICELESS

Then, 42a [Like this puzzle’s circled letters, in the Down answers] – BETTER LEFT UNSAID. The circled letters are silent in:

29d – ST(E)IN, 23d – EMBA(L)MED, 27d – HAS(T)ENED, 20d – SOLEM(N), 41d – I(S)LES, 35d – CH(I)EF

But wait there’s more! Anagram the silent letters and they appropriately spell 74a – SILENT! And all of the circled letters are found in BETTER LEFT UNSAID. Remarkable.

Canadian content:

17a [Toronto’s Casa ___] – LOMA. Casa Loma is a castle-like mansion that is now a tourist attraction.

57d [Juno-winning comedian Decker] – IVAN. I hadn’t heard of him, but I found on YouTube a routine he did about Canadian money, like our $2 coin: 24a [Big change for a Canadian?] – TOONIE.

Many years ago, when my wife and I were dating in Toronto, at her request we went to a Michael Bolton concert. I don’t remember much of his performance, but I sure can recall the opening act, a teenager from Quebec who barely spoke English. 59a [Chanteuse Celine] – DION stole the show.

Did you know?

Most standard crosswords are a square 15 by 15. Today’s puzzle is a bit bigger, at 16 by 15. So don’t worry if it took you a little longer than usual to solve. Why the extra size? Well, to fit in “BETTER LEFT UNSAID”.

Time for me to be 74 across. This is Jeffrey saying see you next week.