I can’t remember when I’ve laughed out loud so much at the theatre.

Ben Hecht and Chas. MacArthur’s 1920 comedy about Chicago newspaper reporters looking for the “big scoop” has been done by just about every theatre group and was made into a successful movie. Having seen the movie and the play a number of times, I wasn’t overly excited about seeing it again.

Surprise! Director Ed Shea has taken the old chestnut, jazzed it up with rapid-fire dialogue and movement, and turned it into a nonstop, hilarious evening of theatre. And he does it all in less than two hours, which is good, because you need another hour to catch your breath.

You may remember the storyline: Ace reporter Hildy Johnson (veteran 2nd Story actor Jim Sullivan at his best) is leaving his profession to get married and go into advertising. He stops by the prison pressroom to say good-bye to his fellow reporters on the eve of a major execution. The prisoner escapes, and through a series of wild and crazy events ends up in a roll top desk, guarded over by Hildy. How he escapes is as funny as it gets.

You can see it coming: Hildy’s fiancé and her mother are there to take him away from the sordid pack of journalists. Hildy sees the story of his life in front of him. What’s a guy to do? There’s a great surprise ending that will leave you laughing.

Along the way, you’ll be treated to some insane action, corny lines and lots of nostalgia.

The opening scene has a half dozen reporters all talking at once, either to each other or on the phone to their newspapers. It takes a few moments to adjust to the chaos, but when you do you’ll realize just how clever both the writers and director are in creating the scene.

Sullivan takes command of the story every time he steps into the room, but he also shares a number of hysterical scenes with the large cast, each of whom has his or her moments.

From a two-minute scene with a frustrated wife (Paula Faber) looking for her husband, to the final scene with the appearance of Hildy’s editor (Bob Colonna at his best), “The Front Page” never slows down.

There are 20 actors in the cast –too many to mention – and they work together in a finely woven ensemble. I must single out John Michael Richardson, a marvelous character actor who has created the role of Bensinger, the hypochondriac, to new heights, and Luis Astudillo, who gives us a hysterical mobster. Tom Roberts plays the Chicago mayor with a flair for the dramatic that emphasizes the political satire. Janine Weisman is the fiancée from hell. You will love hating her.

Erin Meghan Donnelly has created and gathered up the perfect costumes for the period, complete with the old style hats, suspenders and vests. Trevor Elliot puts the audience right in the middle of the messy pressroom, filled with vintage wooden furniture and a window that plays an important part in the production.

“The Front Page” is great escapism comedy, but it also has some good dialogue about the political system of the ’20s, which doesn’t seem much different from today.

“The Front Page” is at 2nd Story Theatre, 28 Market St. in Warren through Feb. 15. Don’t miss it.

Tickets remain at a most reasonable $25. Call 247-4200 for reservations. 2nd Story Theatre operates without an advertising budget, but word-of-mouth (tell four people) always manages to fill the seats. Their Web site is www.2ndstorytheatre.com.