Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: steak substitute

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   For the play ORSON'S SHADOW: the actor playing Orson Welles has to eat all or part of a couple of steaks in every performance. We have been offered prepared steaks by a local bar & grill, but the actor is concerned about being able to cut, chew, and swallow enough for credibility in the scenes. Can anyone suggest a food that would cut with some resistance, hold together on the fork, eat easily, AND read as steak in a house where the first row of seats is just three feet from the stage? I thought of tomato-Worcestershire sauce aspic, but I think it would be too soft. Cake too dry. Tofu the wrong color once cut. Suggestions welcome.

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Madwoman Player Joined: 3/16/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Topic: steak substitute Posted: 3/16/08 at 5:57pm
	For the play ORSON'S SHADOW: the actor playing Orson Welles has to eat all or part of a couple of steaks in every performance. We have been offered prepared steaks by a local bar & grill, but the actor is concerned about being able to cut, chew, and swallow enough for credibility in the scenes. Can anyone suggest a food that would cut with some resistance, hold together on the fork, eat easily, AND read as steak in a house where the first row of seats is just three feet from the stage? I thought of tomato-Worcestershire sauce aspic, but I think it would be too soft. Cake too dry. Tofu the wrong color once cut. Suggestions welcome.

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Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 3/16/08 at 9:21pm
	We've used dark rye bread or pumpernickel bread bought in loaves at a deli or bakery and cut into thick slices by our prop master. It looks like a very well-done steak. Keep it wrapped in the fridge so it doesn't dry out. If you prefer your steak a bit more on the pink side, then I would suggest a large salami cut LENGTHWISE. It's more expensive and you'll get fewer pieces per unit. But cut on the correct bias, it's thick and chewy enough to pass.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
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Sweeney Walk-On Joined: 3/13/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/17/08 at 9:10am
	I agree with Topper. Dark hard crust bread works great for meat. You'd never know from an audience distance.
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Madwoman Player Joined: 3/16/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 3/22/08 at 8:46am
	Thank you both for this suggestion. We tried it last night with dark rye; toasted it and set it in a puddle of soy sauce. It looked very good, especially with the "au jus," and the actor found it palatable and easy to work with.
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Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
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Topic: steak substitute( Topic Closed)