Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: mixing fake and real food

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TripleT
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Joined: 4/28/07
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Topic: mixing fake and real food
Posted: 4/28/07 at 9:23am

I'm directing a play that takes place in a soup kitchen in which there has to be food, both real and fake. As far as real food, does anyone knows of some non messy suggestions that look like a Thanksgiving meal? Also, as far as fake food, I need to simulate cranberry sauce, turkey, and stuffing, and the tray with it has to fly off the table. How do I do this without making the food seem artificial when it falls off?

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suzecue1
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Joined: 9/19/06
Location: United States
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Posted: 4/28/07 at 9:57am

We have done a couple of shows which needed a turkey/chicken on the table. We have always just bought a rotiserie chicken (already cooked) and kept it in the refrigerator between shows. One per weekend. Let the cast eat off of one side and then turn it around for the next show with the good side to the audience.

The "slice" of turkey (for the tray that flies) can be layers of tan leather glued together to about 1/2 inch. I would think you could make up a cranberry / jello mixture that would set up nice, slice and be able to reuse. The stuffing is a mystery - why not use the real thing too? Can the tray be thrown behind a set peice - so you know it was thrown, but you don't actually see the food land?

Sue
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So many hats.....so few heads!

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TripleT
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Posted: 4/28/07 at 10:15pm

Thanks, I especially like the idea of making meat out of leather. I had never thought of making the food!

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MikeO
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Joined: 9/15/06
Location: United States
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Posted: 4/29/07 at 11:14pm

You could probably use real food, just freeze it. It will have the right look, but should be less messy when it flies, as long as it is not on stage for too long of a time.

I'd rather act, but they found out I can do tech & sets!!

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Kathy S
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Joined: 8/21/04
Location: United States
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Posted: 4/30/07 at 10:22pm

You can buy fake food (very real looking) from Superior Studio Specialties. You can order a catalog from their website, I think. Its at superiorstudio.com

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timokay
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Joined: 3/15/07
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Posted: 5/02/07 at 6:46pm

We made a number of food products from Angel food cake. Its a good base, and you can use colored food dye to make whatever color you want, and sculpt it and shape it into many different things. It's also edible, and cleans up well.

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Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup

Author	Message
TripleT Walk-On Joined: 4/28/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: mixing fake and real food Posted: 4/28/07 at 9:23am
	I'm directing a play that takes place in a soup kitchen in which there has to be food, both real and fake. As far as real food, does anyone knows of some non messy suggestions that look like a Thanksgiving meal? Also, as far as fake food, I need to simulate cranberry sauce, turkey, and stuffing, and the tray with it has to fly off the table. How do I do this without making the food seem artificial when it falls off?

	IP Logged

suzecue1 Star Joined: 9/19/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 90	Posted: 4/28/07 at 9:57am
	We have done a couple of shows which needed a turkey/chicken on the table. We have always just bought a rotiserie chicken (already cooked) and kept it in the refrigerator between shows. One per weekend. Let the cast eat off of one side and then turn it around for the next show with the good side to the audience. The "slice" of turkey (for the tray that flies) can be layers of tan leather glued together to about 1/2 inch. I would think you could make up a cranberry / jello mixture that would set up nice, slice and be able to reuse. The stuffing is a mystery - why not use the real thing too? Can the tray be thrown behind a set peice - so you know it was thrown, but you don't actually see the food land?
	Sue ***** So many hats.....so few heads!
	IP Logged

TripleT Walk-On Joined: 4/28/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/28/07 at 10:15pm
	Thanks, I especially like the idea of making meat out of leather. I had never thought of making the food!
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MikeO Lead Joined: 9/15/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Posted: 4/29/07 at 11:14pm
	You could probably use real food, just freeze it. It will have the right look, but should be less messy when it flies, as long as it is not on stage for too long of a time.
	I'd rather act, but they found out I can do tech & sets!!
	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 4/30/07 at 10:22pm
	You can buy fake food (very real looking) from Superior Studio Specialties. You can order a catalog from their website, I think. Its at superiorstudio.com
	IP Logged

timokay Walk-On Joined: 3/15/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/02/07 at 6:46pm
	We made a number of food products from Angel food cake. Its a good base, and you can use colored food dye to make whatever color you want, and sculpt it and shape it into many different things. It's also edible, and cleans up well.
	IP Logged

Topic: mixing fake and real food( Topic Closed)