Thanks!
I think what we've decided to do is open the cans and pour them out, replacing with water and have the actors open the cans upstage, so we can't see it.
Now we're working on the card issue in earnest.
We've tried putting a partially stacked deck on top, and we're not sure we can make it work- there is only really one line of text between when we are supposed to see Lockhart shuffling like a Vegas dealer, and then dealing the hands. So, how does he get that trick deck on in place of the one he just shuffled? We LOOOVE not having to switch out hands- the actors are concerned that if even one person in the audience sees the gag, it'll blow the whole thing- but we're just concerned about how to achieve it.
If we can't deal the correct hands then we have to do the trick hand thing. We can figure out ways for Sharky and Ivan to get their trick hands (4 Aces and 4 Eights) after being dealt, but we are struggling with Lockhart. He's seated with audience to his back and to his left, and so there aren't any angles we can have him palm out the dealt hand and pick up the trick hand.
We are exploring the possibility of using cards that have small text on them, or something, so that the audience won't necessarily be able to see what the cards are. I know, it's a bit of a cheat, but we feel like getting the scene right is more important than getting the game right.
Anybody, thoughts?
Thanks!
~V