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Church Ladies
The Ensemble
Church ladies’ storyline: The church ladies are always on the periphery of the stage which allows them to see and comment on the story. In the beginning, we hear the thoughts of the church ladies offering pity/gossip about Celie’s pregnancy.
Characters portrayed in the Ensemble: The Preacher, the Field Hands, The Church Soloist, Adam, Olivia, Squeak and Grady, Ol’ Mister and others in the community.
What do they represent? Through their wondrously melodic vocals (sung in a gospel style) they offer narration, social critique, guidance to the characters and humour to the overall piece. However, some might argue they symbolise a charismatic but non-confrontational style of Christianity. Whilst the church ladies knew of Celie’s abuse, no one stood up for or protected her from Alphonso.
Ensemble’s role in The Color Purple: The ensemble brings the surrounding world of The Color Purple to life. By allowing the community to be channelled through actors who play multiple roles, it reinforces the notion The Color Purple is everyone’s story, and everyone has a right to access its beauty. For more about the role of the ensemble in musical theatre, please turn to our section on The World of The Musical.
Photograph: Manuel Harlan
