What’s not to love about “Hairspray?” Don’t believe me? Ask the packed house at the Forestburgh Playhouse’s opening night.

It’s a fun and joyful story about a true underdog, a plus-size teen in 1962 Baltimore, who dreams of dancing on a local TV show. Amidst bullying and naysayers, Tracy Turnblad challenges society’s rigid beauty standards as well as racial inequalities in pursuit of her goals. It’s a story about dogged determination, doing what’s right and unconditional love. It started out as a non-musical movie in 1988. Then it was adapted into the 2002 Broadway musical which won eight Tony awards. Most recently it became the 2007 musical film.

I’m going to forbear my usual review structure and get this out of way right now. From the moment you lay eyes on Maria Boissonneault as the big-hearted (and big-haired) Tracy Turnblad in the show’s iconic opening number “Good Morning Baltimore,” you cannot help but fall in love with her. By the song’s end you are already smiling ear to ear. Ms. Boissonneault brings an animated vivacity to her Tracy that keeps our eyes glued to her throughout the evening. Of course, I can’t stop there because this production is packed with musical and comedic talent that just won’t quit, and I have to try and list them all in this one review. Wish me luck!

Reminiscent of American Bandstand’s Dick Clark, Joshua Woodie is very impressive as the handsome TV host Corny Collins who is much more than just a pretty face. Kym Otto as Velma Von Tussle and Jayla Shedeed as Amber Von Tussle are the perfect mother-daughter-bad-guy team who spew the right amount of venomous bigotry, body shaming and jealous tantrums. Tracy’s ever supportive parents are Wilbur Turnblad (Mark Stoddard) and Edna Turnblad (Robert Anthony Jones). One of Hairspray’s endearing charms is the tradition of casting a man to play Edna. Robert Anthony Jones has played the role before and at different venues over the years, and he continues to evoke howls of laughter that compliment Tracy’s sometimes shy and compassionate Mom. Mark Stoddard starts out with a pretty average dad as Wilbur Turnblad but then turns this jokester magic shop owner into a hilarious spouse who together with Mr. Jones bring down the house in their duet “Timeless to Me.” (I don’t know if you’ll see the adlibbed version I saw, but I honest to God hope you do!)

Tracy’s love interest is the good-looking TV heartthrob Link Larkin played by Gabe Salazar. I really enjoyed his performance. Mr. Salazar took this sharp dressed leading man type role and had a blast with it. And his dancing had quite the dazzle as well. Speaking of dancing, there was no one smoother than Mikey Corey Hassel as Seaweed Stubbs. As one of the featured dancers on TV’s Negro Day, he joined forces with Tracy to make every day Negro Day on the Corny Collins show. Seaweed has his eye on Tracy’s awkward friend Penny Pingleton, played by Mary Surette. Her Penny is a fabulous addition to this cast of characters, and her transformation is quite memorable.

There are actors who bounce in and out and usually play different characters. Lu Zielinski is one such thespian who made two small roles stand out. First as Penny’s psychotic and overbearing mother and then as the matron of an all women prison. Ms. Zielinski’s comedic attributes are overreaching. Carolyn Saxon as record shop owner Motormouth Maybelle who hosted Negro Day belted out a beauty in her rendition of “I Know Where I’ve Been.”

You know, the bottom line is that the entire ensemble was a high-octane dose of pure spirited effervescence! This ensemble danced up a storm. More of a whirlwind hurricane. Their group vocals jump started the show with the opener and never let up until the end of the show audience clapping finale “You Can’t Stop The Beat.”

Maggie Jackson and Brian Seckfort built an astounding set that was straight out of 1960’s TV. Its functional sliding panels and quick moving set pieces never slowed the production down at all. Jessica Drayton’s Lights were a hypnotic multimedia spectacle. And how in the world did Director Choreographer Lauren Haughton Gillis piece all of this together? It is beyond me. Her creative staging and succinct choreography made this big show work so incredibly well on this modest playing area. Applause! Applause! Applause!

“Hairspray” is an all-encompassing evening of pure delight. And yet it manages to infuse lessons on racism, segregation, body imaging and inclusion into its over-the-top comedic storyline….and it works!

“Hairspray” will run through August 9. Tickets and info are available through the box office at (845) 794-1194 or online at fbplayhouse.org.