[REVIEW] Unlikely friendship: Humanoid jockey, horse and humans unite

Musical ‘A Thousand Blues’ tells compassionate story with robots, puppetry

By Kwon Mee-yoo

A racehorse on the brink of being discarded, a humanoid jockey learning the meaning of emotion and a girl with a passion for robotics — "A Thousand Blues" brings these unlikely companions together in a musical.

Set in the year 2035, “A Thousand Blues” follows C-27, a humanoid robot jockey originally programmed for horse racing. An unexpected learning chip allows him to acquire 1,000 words, setting him apart from other robots. When he deliberately falls from his horse, Today — who no longer finds joy in running due to injury — he suffers severe damage, losing his lower half.

Yeon-jae, a high school student passionate about robotics, rescues the broken robot and repairs him, giving him the nickname “Coli” for his broccoli-colored body.

As Today’s racing career comes to an end, Coli, Yeon-jae and her disabled sister Eun-hye embark on a mission to give the horse one last chance to run freely.

Based on Cheon Seon-ran’s 2020 science fiction novel of the same name, the musical delves into themes of connection, resilience and the blurred boundaries between humans and machines. The English edition of the novel is set for release later this month by Doubleday.

Pentagon’s Jinho and actor Yoon Tae-ho play Coli, while Hyojung of Oh My Girl and actor Seo Yeon-jung portray Yeon-jae.

Bringing robot, horse to stage

One of the production’s standout features is its innovative use of puppetry, which vividly animates both Coli and Today.

Coli is first introduced as a puppet — an actor manipulates his head while two other puppeteers control his limbs. This not only enhances Coli’s mechanical presence but also visually reinforces his transformation from a lifeless machine into a being capable of emotions. As the story develops and his lower body is repaired, the puppet is replaced by the actor, symbolizing his transformation into a more human-like entity.

Today the racehorse is brought to life by a life-sized puppet, operated by three puppeteers who control its head, front legs and hind legs. The contrast between Coli, a machine gaining emotions, and Today, a living creature treated as a disposable commodity, is conveyed through this theatrical choice of puppetry.

Puppet designer Lee Ji-hyung noted, “Coli, the broken robot, and Today, the horse who can no longer run, mirror each other. They cannot move independently, just as puppets cannot function without human touch. Their journey on stage reflects their rebirth through human care and determination.”

Enhancing the futuristic setting, "A Thousand Blues" incorporates real-life robotics into the production. Unitree’s Go2 robot dog appears as a rescue bot, scanning disaster sites for survivors. Boston Dynamics’ Spot is reimagined as a guide dog for the visually impaired, while IROI, an autonomous security robot, functions as a corporate guide, and Patrover cleans the street.

The presence of these real-world machines highlights the musical’s near-future setting, making its themes feel even more immediate.

Near future closer than ever

“A Thousand Blues” also presents a commentary on society’s increasing reliance on AI.

Bo-gyeong, Yeon-jae’s mother, is an example of this dependence. Years earlier, an AI-powered rescue robot calculated her survival probability at just 3 percent after she was trapped in a building that had collapsed. However, a human firefighter saved her against all odds. Ironically, that same firefighter — her husband — later perished in a blaze where AI had predicted an 80 percent survival rate. Now widowed, she is compelled to run a restaurant near the horse racing park, guided by advice from an insurance company based on probability-driven economic forecasts.

This eerie dynamic resonates with contemporary audiences, reflecting our increasing trust in AI-driven decision-making. In the digital age, where many turn to ChatGPT for advice, the musical subtly critiques the blind faith placed in algorithms over human intuition.

While the musical centers around technology, at its heart is a story of longing and connection. Yeon-jae and Eun-hye, despite being sisters, struggle to communicate with each other. Their mother Bo-gyeong remains emotionally distant, preoccupied with survival. Ironically, it is through a robot and a racehorse that they find the love they lack in human relationships.

The final race scene, where Today runs one last time with Coli as a jockey, is a key moment that reminds audiences that love, care and sacrifice transcend species and circuits.

The musical is staged at the Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea until Friday.