We did it without the casket -- I can't remember if the director wanted a casket and never got one, or if he'd decided from the get-go that there wouldn't be one. He staged the funeral so that the attendees sat facing the audience, which meant that the "casket" was downstage center.  For the scenes looking down at the coffin, we simply directed our gaze to where a casket would have been if there'd been one.

Staging it that way also meant that Ray-Bud's final diatribe, where he loses it and yells at the family, was performed with the actor's back to the audience. Worked beautifully -- the actor was attired in a black suit that was a little too small for him, and white socks, and his body movements from the back as he went nuts were hysterical.

As always, it comes down to directors discretion. But for me, it really works well with the mourners facing the audience, gazing down into the spot lighted area. Its usually done with a minimal set anyway, so why add a view blocker that has to be brought on and off and stored... etc.... etc... But like I said, the choice is yours.. one other thought, I think the imaginary casket helps keep it a little lighter too..

Really great show, have fun with it...