In these difficult economic times, we all need an escape and a good laugh is one of the greatest ways to get away from it all.

With Bowie Community Theatre's new madcap adult comedy farce, "Out of Order," the only way you won't laugh is if you don't have a sense of humor.

Or a pulse.

And the acting on stage is pitch-perfect. I don't know how they did it, as there is constant action, dialog and an increasingly frenetic pace.

The pulse of the actors was certainly racing.

When "Out of Order" gets completely out of control, you will be rolling in the aisles.

There were several moments on opening night where the actors had to wait a bit to deliver some lines as the audience simply couldn't contain itself.

Plays, and especially comedies, can be risky theatre, and when you add to it a bit of "risque" theatre, you could lose some of your audience.

Is the play itself lame? The acting not so good? If so, it makes for an unfunny, even uncomfortable evening.

But BCT scores big with this latest show, and it was a risk worth taking.

And it's another case where you don't want to give too much away, as to spoil the hilarity.

But let's just keep it simple and say it's about a fling with a secretary in a suite of the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C.

And a dead body in the window.

You find that out in the first 10 minutes.

What happens from there can only be described as a modern comedy of errors multiplied to the 10th degree.

It's a comedy where anything that can go wrong will, and thank goodness the cast is practically flawless, because if anything went wrong with their delivery or their timing, the humor would be completely lost. The same could be said for the set design, most notable a window that slams down on its own at certain times.

It certainly wouldn't be out of order to praise Jim Estepp and James McDaniel for their brilliant comic timing, and the increased panic as the show progresses.

Heather Gaither-Greek as Jane Worthington is perfect in the role of the secretary/mistress, as is Nick Greek as Ronnie, the out-of-control, enraged, emotionally upset husband.

The supporting cast of Jim Murphy as the hotel manager, Rich Fogg as the comical yet annoying waiter, Sherry Fogg as Pamela, Jennifer Harvey as the maid, and Vicki Hartford as Gladys, all add even more energy to an already frenetic show.

But special mention must go to Rick Hall, billed in the cast list as "a body."

It's amazing how full of life his lifeless performance is.

At least through the end of Act 1. (That's all I'll say.)

In the words of producer and BCT president Janice Coffey, "If you are happy, then the people around you will be happy. And by your continued supports, it seems you feel the same.

"Producing shows isn't easy. But if you are lucky enough to assemble a very talented group of people, the magic happens."

Magic, and laughter, indeed happened for two hours at the Bowie Playhouse.