Let Me Tell You and Let Me Go On

This scintillating diptych from Griffiths (Mr. Beethoven), originally published in 2008 and 2023, respectively, uses only the 481 words spoken by Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Here, Shakespeare’s tragic heroine, named O, is at the heart of a new story, one that contains familiar elements from Hamlet, such as many of the original characters, but is set in a world that resembles a melancholy version of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland. In a memorable moment of Let Me Tell You, O is led by her maid to a “green door in the mountain,” which opens into a chamber housing someone called the Lady Profound and her talking owl; in Let Me Go On, O sets out to meet a talking wishing well. Griffiths blends tragic elements into the fantastical tale. For instance, music “has gone for good,” and Ophelia’s mother (nonexistent in the original play) appears here as a dark, disturbed figure, described as “a length of hell”—one of many instances in which Griffith showcases his ability to create haunting images with a limited lexicon. Despite the story’s pathos, Griffiths finds much room for keen wit, such as Polonius citing the lyrics to the Beatles’ “Love Me Do.” Shakespeare lovers will get a kick out of this playful experiment. (Apr.)