IS there another musical that is so seriously entertaining and entertaining serious as Hairspray?

You’d have imagined that a show dealing with such sensitive issues as racial discrimination and fat-shaming would be a hard slog.

But not Hairspray which uses music, song and dance to being people together and make the world a better and more tolerant place. Politicians could do worse than take note of what Tracy Turnblad does to bring peace and acceptance of “outsiders” - whether through skin colour or body shape - in 1960s Baltimore.

From the exuberant opening number Good Morning Baltimore it’s clear that this is going to be a fun ride and that any message will be put over without preaching. Schoolgirl Tracy (Rosie O’Hare) wants to dance her way on to national television and catch the eye of teen heartthrob Link Larkin. So she teams up with the local black community led by Brenda Edwards’ gospel powerhouse Motormouth Maybelle, whose big number There’s a Light is an emotional blockbuster guaranteed to showstopper.

Seeing Hairspray again I was reminded what a great score it has, culminating in the annoyingly catchy Can’t Stop The Beat, a surefire signal for the audience to get to their feet and join in.

Matt Rixon makes a marvellously outsize character of Edna while still capable of capturing both tender and hilarious moments with the equally good Graham MacDuff as her husband Wilbur.

Never mind the beat not stopping, I don’t want the show to stop.

Until Saturday. Box office 0844 871 3024. Online atgtickets.com/york

Raymond Crisp