The script calls for Cornish game hens, which nobody actually eats. We don't want to have to bake new ones for each weekend. Has anyone tried spraying them with polyurethane to preserve them for the run of the show? Maybe shellac? Any suggestion would certainly be appreciated...I suggested refrigeration and consumption at the close of each weekend, and baking up a new batch for the next weekend, but it seems I'm the only one with a taste for the critters. We looked into purchasing plastic food-props, but the costs we found were prohibitive. 

Marsha, thank you for your suggestion. We're actively looking into it. The birdies have to look fairly real, because we're doing the show in an intimate 60 seat venue, so I'm also trying polyurethane on a couple hens I baked yesterday. First lesson: do not bake till perfectly done then remove from the oven - one of the moist, juicy drumsticks of one bird literally fell off at first handling. I confess I couldn't resist taking a bite or two, it looked and smelled so good! I kept the other bird in a slow 200 degree oven for two extra hours so it would dry out a bit more - it held up better. The outer skins did not wrinkle up as badly as I feared they might, and the polyurethane coats (3 good coats) are not tacky this morning. So far, so good. I'll post the final results of the experiment later.