Who’s a clever girl, then? Well, Karin Muiznieks for one. Remember the name even if you can’t spell it yet!

Muiznieks’ show is built around a political lecture about the class struggle. She has a boardful of cartoons outlining the problems of the world. It may sound a bit ‘Rod Quantock’ but it certainly isn’t. It’s not even a tirade really – it’s an excuse for the songs which are the strength of the show.

Her band (Roland on piano and Emma the multi-instrumentalist) plays the overture till Karin, in gold lame shawl, busts in singing an opener which she promptly pronounces ‘a shit song anyway.’ She’s got bigger things in mind; she’s here to change the world because to parody Randy Newman – and she does – It’s Lousy at the Bottom.

Karin’s songs are great: wicked, witty, tight and tuneful, covering a variety of genres and topics. Her piece d’amusement is her musical reminiscence of a jealous girlfriend who thinks Karin has pinched her lover. She switches from shrew to innocent with a flick of her head scarf to tell both sides of the story. The punchline is a killer!

And I loved the grisly – should that be ‘gristly? – Cannibal Waltz; Hannibal, eat your heart out! The final song may have disappointed a little when the big finish was required but Karin Muiznieks, singer, songwriter, cabaret performer, has a bright future.

I saw Casey Benetto in an early outing, long before Keating! and Comedy Festival canonization, in a show full of promise, intelligence and talent. First Against the Wall has shades of that – Karin is a fine young performer on the verge of big things.