You know you’ve seen good theatre when you haven’t felt the back of your seat for two hours! That’s what this business is all about and the Ingersoll Dinner Theatre knows how to succeed in that aspect.

Friday night marked the opening of the Ingersoll Dinner Theatre’s production of Phantom. Ever since The Phantom of the Opera was first published in France in 1910 and the United States in 1911, Gaston Leroux’s novel of love and terror stalking the Paris Opera from eaves to catacombs has captivated audiences world-wide.

Phantom, the Iowa premiere of a musical written by Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston, will run through October 29, with matinees falling on Sept. 27, Oct. 11, 25 and 29.

“First there was the book, then the movies and Webber’s show,” said Charles Carnes, producer of show. “Now there is Phantom.”

When the red curtains opened up Friday night, the set was truly amazing and made for some unique staging ideas throughout the show.

The standouts in the show were two very special parts, Christine and the Phantom. Christine was played by Preshia Paulding and the Phantom was played by Brad Church. The other characters enhanced these two leads, but the two of them together made for some true chemistry on stage.

Two thumbs up go to these two talented performers due to the fact that they became these characters on stage and it became a reality, not just, “I’m seeing these characters on stage and I know they are not real, but I’ll pretend they are.”

“It was tough. This was probably the most difficult role I’ve ever played,” Church said. “I just saw him as a three dimensional person. He had a heart inside. He believed that the world owed him something because he had been hid his whole life.

“There was a bitterness to him and then there’s a tenderness when he meets the love of his life. It was a long, long process.”

The vocal projection started out poor but was much improved by the end of act one. At the end of the show, it was up to par and excellent! The energy level was especially good in the number, “Paris is a Tomb” which the Phantom sang and projected very well.

Christine’s number, “Home,” which was staged in the costume shop on stage was well focused and her facial expressions were very clear to the audience with her ending notes sending goose bumps down the backs of many audience members.

The Phantom comes in towards the end of this song, and a very romantic moment occurs because Christine doesn’t know that the Phantom is behind her.

The number of all numbers of the evening was called “Story of Erik,” which entailed the re-enactment of how the Phantom, whose real name is Erik, was born with the most terrible looking face and had to wear a mask, but his mother loved him regardless. This scene was truly enchanting because of the visual effects.

The moment after the song, “My True Love,” Christine swore she could handle seeing the Phantom’s face so he took the mask off and she screamed and ran off. But later she came back because she truly loved him. The lighting in this scene was spectacular and the music’s dramatic effect just added that touch of suspense that the audience needed to see.

To sum things up, this musical has a deeper meaning behind it. It’s about people taking off their masks and being scared of who they really are and if people will accept them for what their true self is and not the mask in front of them.

For more information about upcoming shows call 274-4686