Theater Reviews : Sparkling Supporting Cast Warms Up ‘Annie’ : Ashley Camp is pretty much at home in the role of the orphan, but the funny people keep Fullerton production going.

In its own perverse way, director Jan Duncan’s Fullerton Civic Light Opera staging of “Annie,” at Plummer Auditorium, provides a few clues to the show’s durability. A lot of musicals have come and gone since the ‘70s. (Remember “Barnum”?) Not “Annie.” Why?

It’s not necessarily because of Annie, or whatever bright young girl sings “Tomorrow.” No, “Annie’s” secret weapon is the array of acid and charming and sneaky comic characters that fill Thomas Meehan’s book, based on the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip. And it’s the reprise of “Tomorrow,” involving F.D.R.’s nutty White House cabinet, that really delivers the goods.

But in Fullerton, the big number for Ashley Camp’s Annie isn’t “Tomorrow” at all, but her first (and reprised) number, “Maybe.”

Unfortunately, Irma Torres, credited with hair and wig design, seemingly couldn’t come up with the proper curly red wig for our favorite orphan. Instead, Camp must show off fairly flat-looking tresses.

Camp otherwise looks and acts at home with the role, which takes her from the dreadfully clammy New York municipal orphanage, run by bitter Miss Hannigan (Carol Swarbrick, who steals the show with relish), to the heavenly mansion of billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Van Mosley, in fine voice).

Camp’s Annie can stand up to the toughest orphan in the ward, or fool Hannigan whenever she must, or persuade a copper that the dog she just found really is her Sandy (the well-behaved novice canine actor, Ginger).

We feel a little for this Annie, but we can’t really warm up to her. While “Maybe” contains a good dose of longing and remains one of the most evocative pieces by composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Martin Charnin, “Tomorrow” sounds rote, ill-timed, even harsh. Musical director and conductor Lee Kreter might do something to smooth the harshness, which is hardly helped by problem-plagued miking throughout the show.

What’s a musical to do? Bring on the funny people, if you have them. Luckily, “Annie” contains a fair share. Leading the pack is Swarbrick’s Hannigan, who may be too Paul Lynde-ish for some tastes, but who milks every one of her moments with the comic-book sensibility of the original strip.

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Conniving with her in the plot to steal Annie are Frank Stancati’s superb, chameleonic Rooster and Laura Soltis as his cackling, evil lover, Lily. (Watch them in their disguise to snatch up Annie; they’re performances within performances.)

Although he doesn’t exactly resemble President Roosevelt, Stephen Breithaupt affectionately captures the New Deal man’s sing-song tone with the ideal deadpan attitude. Richard Comeau as both an apple seller and, later, as radio host Bert Healy singing a period-perfect version of “Fully Dressed,” shows the range of talent that typifies the various ensemble groups.

And speaking of “Fully Dressed,” the little orphans who terrorize Hannigan pick up Bert’s song and run with it. The frisky group of Ashley Day, Alex Chester, Candice Oden, Deanna Aguinaga, Lora Kane, Carolyn Tomaka, Jodel Visser and Peri Baker deliver terrifically infectious energy, guided by choreographer Sha Newman’s steady hand.

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In the more sober roles, Mosley’s Warbucks and Therese Walden as his aide Grace anchor the story with tender, loving care. The slender Mosley doesn’t match our physical idea of a more rotund Warbucks; still, his tender-edged voice and lack of gruffness effectively play against the stereotype of the mean old rich man.

If only as much thought has been given to the show’s look, which is sometimes desperately bus-and-truck, and sometimes (as in the orphanage set by Mark Klopfenstein) not. Donna Ruzika’s best lighting work comes through on the Depression-era scenes, while Edith Melcher’s costumes show off at their finest in the brightness of Warbucks’ living room.

* “Annie,” Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m. Ends May 29. $13-$26. (714) 879-1732. Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes. Ashley Camp: Annie

Van Mosley: Oliver Warbucks

Carol Swarbrick: Miss Hannigan

Therese Walden; Grace

Frank Stancati; Rooster

Laura Soltis; Lily

Stephen Breithaupt; President Roosevelt

Richard Comeau Bert Healy/Apple Seller

A Fullerton Civic Light Opera production of the musical. Book by Thomas Meehan. Music by Charles Strouse. Lyrics by Martin Charnin. Directed by Jan Duncan. Musical director-conductor: Lee Kreter. Choreography: Sha Newman. Set: Mark Klopfenstein. Lights: Donna Ruzika. Costumes: Edith Melcher.