REALITYCHECKS

PRACTICALJOKEFilling a friend's car with balloons, e.g. POETICJUSTICEReward or punishment that may be ironic SENSELESSNESSIdiocy PRIMARYCOLORSThey can be mixed to make orange, green and purple GRANNYSQUARESPieces of crocheted fabric that make four-sided shapes ... or a hint to the theme words at 16a, 44a, 7d, and 41d: 2 wds. ROLLINTOABALLArrive à la Cinderella? OLDWIVESTALESFoolish traditions SEASONTOTASTESpring roll or summer sausage? SUNKINDESPAIRUtterly depressed MOTHEROFPEARLGround opal, the former material for shiny ornamentation HUGHMCDIARMIDScottish poet whose works include A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle NOELGALLAGHERMember of Oasis who formed his High Flying Birds in 2010 PUTINTHESHADETo eclipse INCONSEQUENCEAs a result