Leapin’ lizards! Camarillo Community Theatre kicks off its 40th season with the sprightly “Annie,” a musical based on the “Little Orphan Annie” comic created by Harold Gray in 1924.

The newspaper strip was originally intended for children, but in the 1930s the comic became more adult and political. Although the show is set in the same place and time—New York City during the Great Depression—the play (book by Tomas Meeham) strays from Gray’s political views (he hated FDR) and omits the strip’s supporting characters Punjab and the Asp.

The show seems timely, though, with its themes of homelessness, unemployment and the affluent losing their wealth. Parents unable to support their children, like Annie, abandon them at orphanages, where the tykes are warehoused by boozy, mean caretakers like Miss Hannigan (Heather Linkletter).

The cute-as-buttons orphan girls dance up a storm as they wail “It’s a Hard-Knock Life.” But Annie wants to escape and search for her parents.

She ends up in a Hooverville, a shanty town set up by folks ruined by the stock market crash. The frustrations they vent in “We’d Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover” (or insert the name of your president of choice) sound familiar in today’s economic slump.

Annie finds a stray mutt, Sandy (a real live dog), but nearly loses the canine to a policeman. Then Sandy disappears from the play, a loose thread that would have made an interesting subplot.

Billionaire Oliver Warbucks (double-cast with Damian Gravino and John Logue) wants to bring an orphan home for Christmas as a publicity stunt and sends his secretary, Grace (Brittany Smith), to find a child— guess who? Annie soon charms her way into the heart of the crusty tycoon.

When Warbucks offers a reward to find Annie’s parents, Miss Hannigan’s no-good brother Rooster (John Tedrick) cooks up a scheme for him and his moll Lily (Olivia Heulitt) to pose as the orphan’s mom and pop to get the dough.

Warbucks discusses the nation’s woes with a clueless Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Andy Brasted). Annie sings “Tomorrow” and inspires the president. The way to save the economy is through a good theme song.

The poverty glimpsed at the start vanishes when Annie moves into Warbucks’ penthouse. She never looks back in this rags-toriches tale. Sure life’s tough, the play tells us, but tomorrow’s only a day away and the sun will come out to a better life for those as optimistic as Annie.

CCT’s Annie—10-year-old Quinn Martin, a spunky, energetic little girl with a huge voice that fills the theater—is a winner: Her crying scenes seem real, and she’s a natural presence, not stagy like an actress playing a role.

The orphan girl ensemble has top-notch performers and dancers. Special notice goes to 5-yearold Megan Kanter in her stage debut as Molly. She hits her marks and remembers her lines like a pro. Watch this kid grow into a fine actress.

The adults also turn in memorable performances, especially Tedrick as the slimy con man, Smith as the efficient secretary and William Wilson as the exasperated radio announcer who tells his listeners, “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.”

Andy Brasted turns in two plum parts, a boisterous FDR and the corny ventriloquist on the radio show.

Logue and Martin show genuine affection in their touching duet “I Don’t Need Anything But You.” Watch Annie stand on Warbucks’ feet during their dance.

The songs (music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charmin) are delightful and singable, and “Tomorrow” will stick in your head for days.

Choreographer Lisa Brady stages several splendid dance numbers. Linkletter, Tedrick and Heulitt slip and slide across the stage in “Easy Street.”

The show will delight children, although the nearly threehour running time might prove taxing for youngsters.

So what if the world’s in bad shape? Move out of Hooverville and cheer up—“Annie’s” here!

The show runs through March 28 at 330 Skyway Drive, Camarillo. For tickets, call (805) 388-5716.