By Anthony Smith
Some nights, you enter a theatre curious… and leave transformed. Saturday at Spacebar Café and Wine Bistro in La Mesa was one of those nights—and I was proud to be there.
I arrived with no expectations, just a sold-out house and a quiet hope. What unfolded was far beyond hope: a living, breathing collision of music, poetry, and spirit that held every person in the room in awe.
The Ira Aldridge Repertory Players’ “Sanctified in Swing” was more than a show -t was a sacred experience.
At the heart of the evening was Defying Physics. The velvet-smooth, soul-wrapped voice of Roosevelt Carter on “Where Is the Love” delivered a heart-wrenching, intoxicating emotion that had the audience leaning forward, feeling every syllable, every pause, every sigh. Paired with the luminous, jazzy, and commanding voice of Leslie Green, whose arrangement of “Don’t Mean a Thing When You Ain’t Got That Thing” danced effortlessly between improvisation and precision, the stage became a playground of sound, harmony, and energy. Their voices didn’t just harmonize—they collided, lifted, and electrified the room. Moments of swaying gave way to breathless silence, because what we were hearing was rare. Sacred.
Guiding the evening with grace and warmth was Rene Minniefee, whose presence as Master of Ceremonies threaded the night together with elegance and intention.
And then there was Cherie McCarey, whose reading of Calvin Manson’s excerpt from When the Ocean Calls Your Name was extraordinary, every word resonating with weight, tenderness, and truth.
Calvin Manson, founder and Artistic Director of the Ira Aldridge Repertory Players, award-winning playwright, and Master Storyteller, defied the laws of physics that night. His spoken word intertwined seamlessly with Roosevelt’s soul and Leslie’s jazz, creating moments that felt larger than life, moments that made you believe that music, poetry, and spirit could merge into one transcendent experience.Beyond the brilliance on stage, the night served a higher purpose: a portion of proceeds supports Arts in Lemon Grove through the Lemon Grove Arts Collective, turning everyday spaces into shared stories and connecting the community through creativity. By the final note, strangers felt like family, performance became communion, and a night out became unforgettable. I walked in with no expectations—and walked out, like everyone else, proud, moved, and amazed.
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