Last week we took a behind-the-scenes tour of Delacorte Theater in Central Park, which is currently hosting the first of the Public Theater's two annual Shakespeare in the Park plays. The second (starting in July) is King Lear, which will demand a lot of fake blood... specifically for Edgar and Edmund's final fight.

During the tour, a blood-making demonstration was given, and the Public has now offered us their special recipe. Save it for Halloween... or your own at-home Lear reenactments.



(Photo by Amy Finkel)

The Public Theater’s “Propstume” Friendly Blood

2 parts chocolate syrup



1 part Tide (yes, the laundry detergent... which you'll need more of later to clean this all up)



6 drops red food coloring

Directions: Mix and put in the corner of a sandwich bag. Tie off with a piece of thread into a tight ball. Cut off left over bag.

Click through to watch the masters create this step by step.