Initially abashed after tot's histrionics (5)
I believe the answer is:
drama
'histrionics' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'initially abashed after tot's' is the wordplay.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'tot' becomes 'dram' (both can mean an alcoholic drink).
The initial letter of 'abashed' is 'a'.
'a' put after 'dram' is 'DRAMA'.
(Other definitions for drama that I've seen before include "Play; exciting situation" , "Highly emotional episode" , "Turbulent emotional episode" , "Play, emotional series of events" , "Literary play" .)