The Mongol Khan – review

Written by Lkhagvasuren Bavuu, set during the Hunnic empire 2000 years ago, Archug Khan (Erdenebileg Ganbold), the ruler of the ancient Hunnu empire, faces a unique situation with his two queens: both are expecting boys at the same time! His beloved wife, Gurgel (Dulguun Odkhuu), and his estranged senior wife, Tsetser (Uranchimeg Urtnasan) are nine days apart in their pregnancy.

The revelation that both queens are expecting boys simultaneously raises questions about who  is really the baby daddy of one child. Amidst persistent doubt and confusion, Khan decides to defy tradition and appoint one of his son’s as the official successor while still a young baby.

In this complex scenario, Archug Khan has an advisor named Egereg, the Chancellor (Bold-Erdene Sugar), who is secretly plotting against him. Behind closed doors, Egereg devises a sinister plan to impregnate Khan’s estranged wife, Tsetser, with the hope that his son will ascend to the throne. However, this wicked scheme wreaks havoc as Egereg’s son grows into a destructive and evil force, challenging the great Khan’s authority. A plot hatches, promising to forever alter the delicate balance of power.

I must admit, it did take me a while to catch onto the storyline, especially with the dialog being in Mongolian and small subtitles on stage being the only way to transcribe what was being said. At times, I felt a bit lost during the play, especially when I decided to focus on the performance rather than the subtitles. Juggling both was quite a challenge.
But let’s be honest, the story isn’t the main highlight; it’s all about the visuals. Similar to a Cirque du Soleil show, the bold set, bright lights, fancy costumes, and the impressive dance and acrobatic sequences will leave you amazed.

With a huge cast of 70 performers, all known to be some of the best Mongolian talent, the show was exciting to witness. Director Hero Baatar did a great job at bringing the Mongolian empire alive especially whilst having such a huge cast! Costume Designer Bold Ochirzhantsan pulled out the big guns for the show as the costumes were so rich and beautiful. The whole creative team did exceptionally well, and you can clearly see that no expenses were spared.

The main attraction of this show is the performances. The entire cast did an outstanding job of keeping the audience entertained. They were all fantastic and a joy to watch.

The entire cast did an outstanding job of keeping the audience entertained. They were all fantastic and a joy to watch.

While the show had numerous commendable qualities, clarity was a challenge. I often found myself lost in trying to follow the subtitles. The dilemma was choosing between reading the subtitles during the first half and missing the performances or abandoning the subtitles during the second half to focus on the performances. It felt like a trade-off between understanding the plot and appreciating the visuals.

In essence, ‘The Mongol Khan’ offered a visually stunning experience but, unfortunately, lost me within the first ten minutes. If the plot isn’t a priority for you and you want something visually unique and spectacular, then this play is a must-watch!