?I will never marry you!? And with that final statement a gunshot rang throughout the building. The onlookers screamed as they witnessed this fatal blow. Teddy Burnett fell to the ground, dead.

After months of practice, junior high and high school drama department retell the story ?The Man Behind the Mask,? written by Craig Sodaro. They displayed their talent at three shows May 9 and 10, and the junior high on May 5.

Unlike the past productions of classical works such as Treasure Island or The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the play was a comical twist to the traditional Phantom of the Opera.

The story begins with the cast shooting a scene for the soap opera, ?As the Heart Burns.? The main character, Regina Brooks (Ani Paparigian, ’09), is torn between her family’s wishes and her heart in whom to marry.

Between takes of the scene, the prop gun is mysterious exchanged with real bullets, killing the actor Teddy Burnett (Trevor Bodi, ’09). Believing the studio to be haunted, Noah Caine, (Ricky Lopez, ’11) suspects a phantom is lurking around the studio and the props.

Two detectives, Digby Wright (Scott Orcutt, ’09) and partner Eve Potter (Nacoya Villegas, ’10) try to solve the case and put an end to the mysterious killings.

Drama teacher Tom McEntee believes the play gave students an opportunity to make their roles individual to them

“Scott Orcutt shined as the detective,” McEntee said. “He had so many lines to memorize. He was very creative with his character and kept the storyline moving.”

A humorous love story combined with the deadly threats of the Phantom provided a complex plot for this comedy.

Paparigian’s facial expressions and tone of voice as the main character portrayed the depth of emotion Regina might feel, from horror to love.

When Paparigian was unable to perform both nights of the high school performance, two junior highers stepped up to take the lead on Saturday. eighth graders Brooke Stobbe portrayed Regina Brooks and Harry McComb as Addison Meriwether.

The set generated a realistic atmosphere, looking less taped-up and more professional. This created the feeling that the audience was watching the plot unfold in front of them. There were lights on the walls and a working chandelier hung on the ceiling, the workmanship of alumnus and Fresno State student Michael Savage, ’04.

The performers kept the audience engaged as the plot unfolded to reveal an unexpected twist. McEntee was pleased with the result of their last performance.

“I always feel good when our last show is our best,” McEntee said. “That was the case for Saturday night. It gives me a sense of satisfaction for the end of the year. The play was definitely a success.”