I made these pork chops from foam rubber and wood for “You Can’t Take it With You” — one of the most prop-heavy shows known to humankind!
I bought a pork chop and cooked it. I froze it and then used it as reference to make these. I made the bones by cutting out a piece of pine on the band saw. I then cut a slit in the foam rubber, which I had shaped to look like meat, and glued the bone into it with water soluble contact cement.
I then painted the bone and the foam to look like cooked pork chops and glued them to the plate so they wouldn’t slide off while in use on stage.
I cut the watermelon from a few giant discs of the foam sold in craft shops for making Christmas decorations. It’s easy to stick bits and pieces into and decorate. I cut the shapes out and glued a strip of lightweight bristol board around the edge to give a smooth effect of the rind.
I painted the pink part with French enamel varnish (made with shoe dye, shellac and methyl hydrate) so it would be more like a wash than solid colour. I glued them onto the plate.
The blintzes I made with a kind of white putty that dries into a slightly rubbery texture at room temperature. I cut up chunks of foam rubber and dipped them into water soluble contact cement glue and paint to give them the effect of being a filled with a liquid mixture.
I then made the flattened crepe shape and wrapped it around the contents. I waited until it hardened and then painted it to look baked.
I didn’t build the stool, but I refinished it and upholstered the seat.
The cushion below was one of two that I made fit into a window seat built into the set. I managed to match the design on the seams perfectly.
I love your food props and you attention to detail. Mad Cow Theatre, here in Orlando is currently in production for YCTIWY- how did you solve the Queen Mary model and the printing press? Two major issues that have come up in production. Thank you for your reply- Lisa Buck, Props Master Cell 321-287-1234