Crystal Dungeon by Richard Coffey

Thanks to Flora Queen

Title: Crystal Dungeon 

Author: Richard Coffey

Publisher: not known 

Source book: The Wine of Angels by Phil Rickman  (Merrily Watkins #1)

Much of the plot of The Wine of Angels is taken up with Richard Coffey’s play about Wil Williams, a rector of Ledwardine in the 1660s. Williams was accused of witchcraft and hanged himself in an apple orchard belonging to the church. The orchard was later thought to be haunted. [I am so glad I didn’t live in the 1660s, although some of my ancestors had very exciting lives back then.]

Richard Coffey, who is gay himself, believes that Williams was persecuted because he was gay, and he thinks his play will rehabilitate the man and solve the mystery of his death. The unnamed play is due to be performed as part of a new festival in the village together with a new choral work called Old Cider.

Merrily Watkins, sitting in a scratchy bad-tempered committee meeting (I expect we all know what they’re like), to discuss the festival, wonders if anyone else has seen Richard Coffey’s controversial television play, Crystal Dungeon, about a reclusive earl’s incestuous relationship with his sister and their persecution by an evil butler? Not a very delightful subject for play. Coffey writes both for stage and television but Crystal Dungeon seems to be the only title of any of his works we are given.

Merrily eventually works out that Wil Williams, remember him?, was not gay at all, but a woman masquerading as a man, and far from hanging herself, she was murdered; probably by a henchman of the local squire.

Thanks to The Woodland Trust