Let me share something that's fun and interesting about Darrin, and then I'll tell you what makes it even better.

By day, Darrin is an animator at Disney. However, that's not his only job. He is also half the brains and none of the beauty behind Trent Whitestone and Shania Dakota, the finest and funniest 'spoof' magic act you will ever see. Darrin and his partner (of whom more in a second) deliver every single toe-curling cliché, every cringe-inducing ounce of cheesy, schmaltzy sub-par ghastliness of the typical illusion act, and do so with great wit and flair. Like all the best affectionate satire, it is intelligent, keenly observed, hypodermically accurate, quite ruthless, deliciously silly in parts and yet also seductively clever.

You can read more, and catch the lastest show dates, here: http://www.trentwhitestone.com/home.html

I am particularly taken with Darrin's blond wig, and the facial expression that goes with it:

Isn't that just perfect? As for 'Shania', she is not only excessively good-looking (as you can see for yourself), but also extremely lethal in the way she sends up every magician's 'showgirl' assistant you've ever seen. It's all there: the rictus grin, the poses, the demented semaphore hand gestures... but with that rich extra dimension of scalpel-sharp satire.

Now, let me share something that I think makes it all that much more fun  - and may I thank Darrin for letting me share this. You will have gathered that 'Trent Whitestone' and 'Shania Dakota' are made-up names. (If you hadn't worked that out, this website is not for you.) However, the real names behind the masks are Darrin Butters and Lorelei Hill. As I have pointed out to Darrin, it's just as believable that the made-up names are the real ones and vice-versa. There must be a parallel world in which two talented young people, who happen to be called Trent and Shania, devise a brilliant comedy act and call themselves 'Darrin Butters' and 'Lorelei Hill'.

Finally, let me give you some photographic evidence of what Darrin is like. After we'd had a very enjoyable lunch, spiced with all the usual magic geek chat, I took a snap of Darrin next to his car:

Then I said, "And how would Trent pose for the same photo?". Darrin said he'd kill me if I ever posted the resulting photo on my website. So you haven't seen this:

[ Happy Update, Jan 05: I am pleased to report that the former Miss Lorelei Hill is now Mrs Lorelei Butters. Congratulations to both! ]