I'm not sure how to ask the question. So let me show the code that I'm having trouble with and maybe that will help explain the question. 
#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use CGI;

## stuff snipped for brevity

my($firstchar) = substr($name,0,1);
if($vartocheck =~ /$firstchar/i) {
   ## do stuff;
}

## stuff snipped for brevity

exit;

[download]
If $firstchar = '(' then I get an unmatched ( error at runtime.

Is there an option such that the $firstchar will be used in the compare without causing this error?

Thanks for any clues
Claude

In reply to Regex question by Xxaxx

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