CHILDREN’S THEATER REVIEW : ‘Annie’ Leaves Young Audiences Wide-Eyed : But Buena Park production of the musical is a pretty cheery stocking stuffer for adults too. It will be staged again tonight, Saturday and Sunday.

Comic strips are like soap operas: Stay with them for a while and you may learn more about their main characters than you know about your own neighbors.

That may help explain the appeal of “Annie,” the popular Broadway musical inspired by the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip. Under the direction of Ruth Walp, the Buena Park Children’s Musical Theatre gives “Annie” another airing this weekend at the Buena Park High School Performing Arts Center.

You know the story: A plucky red-haired foundling in Depression-era New York City ditches her miserable life at the orphanage to search for her true parents. In the process, she inspires the nation’s economic recovery, befriends a stray dog and wins the hearts of Americans, most notably that of billionaire industrialist Oliver (Daddy) Warbucks. In the real world, this kid wouldn’t stand a chance. But, shucks, when you live in a comic strip, anything can happen.

With its cartoonish characters and fairy-tale story line, “Annie” is a natural for children’s theater groups. Youngsters enjoy the bouncy music and happy ending, and oldsters get a chuckle out of the period references and lightweight political barbs in Thomas Meehan’s script. Failing that, it’s hard to resist any kid in such a wig as funny-looking as this redhead’s.

The Buena Park Children’s Musical Theatre staging features 45 children ages 9 to 17; most of the major roles are double cast. At Sunday’s performance, Walp’s young cast proved that Annie isn’t the only one who can face adversity with a smile. Dogged by a faulty sound system and musical accompaniment that ranged from draggy to dirge-like, the youngsters maintained a high energy level throughout the performance, which runs well more than two hours.

Though a little thin on her high notes, Allison Harned’s Annie brimmed with the requisite cheer and determination. As Miss Hannigan, the brutish, boozing mistress of the orphanage, Julia Roberts (no, not that one) played up her role’s physical humor with wild grimaces and gestures that could carry all the way to Joisey. Warbucks (Raul Estrada Jr.) and his secretary, Grace (Sara Endicott), were the picture of big-bucks sophistication.

As Molly, Andrea Dodson, who rivaled even Harned in pluck, was a standout among Annie’s ragtag pals at the orphanage, and Maria Roberts, Julia’s twin, gum-popped and eye-rolled with the best of them as the dizzy Lily. (“Easy Street,” a dance number that featured the twins flanking Ryan Herst as Rooster, drew plenty of curious stares from younger audience members.)

Contrasting all this vim and vigor was Cindy Hernandez’s musical direction. Playing an electronic keyboard, Hernandez frequently turned what should have been zippy dance tunes into ballads, and ballads into funeral dirges (“Easy Street” and Annie’s wistful “Maybe” suffered the most).

The foibles of body mikes caused a few rough spots as well. Walp’s colorful costumes--especially the natty Yuletide uniforms of the Warbucks’ domestics--and Steve Craig’s bright and serviceable sets were a plus.

So if you’ve had your fill of sugar plum fairies and don’t mind a few technical gaffes, “Annie” makes a cheery stocking stuffer.

‘Annie’

A Buena Park Children’s Musical Theatre production. Directed by Ruth Walp. With Andrea Dodson, Allison Harned, Julia Roberts, Sara Endicott, Raul Estrada Jr., Ryan Herst, Maria Roberts and Peter Young. Musical direction by Cindy Hernandez. Choreography by Robin Perry. Sets by Steve Craig. Performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Buena Park High School Performing Arts Center, 8833 Academy Drive. Tickets: $3. (714) 821-1394 or (714) 821-1010 (weekdays only).