[SML] Table that can show 3 separate settings and magically change.

[Joe]

I am in a production of Beauty and the Beast that is not the Disney version. There are no dancing silverware. Everything in the castle just happens by magic. There is a table that must first be empty, then show a dinner banquet. Then a minute later, show a large breakfast feast.
My current idea is to use 2D cutouts to depict the banquet. When not being shown, they lay down in a recess cut to the same shape.

I've color coded the cutouts, though they will be painted with an image of the food and silver. Our audience cannot see the top surface of the table when they are seated. Though, when standing, they can.  Also, we would prefer to not have to plant a hidden stagehand under the table.
The green cutout shows one of the meals, and its back side can be painted the color of the tablecloth.  But the magenta cutout, will have the color image showing when it is laying down.  I think I will handle this by having another cloth cover the table as the audience is entering. Then, in a blackout as the show starts, a stagehand simply removes it. But one issue remains to be resolved...
I would like the character that sits there (Papa), to actuate the effect.  I think he can pull a string that is tied to a small plastic bead or loop. But when you have a flat object that needs to turn up, you need to be pulling from slightly above the surface. For the green one, I think there will be no difficulty. Papa can grab the cord for the green cut-out and hook it over the edge of the table to keep it up. But the magenta one is another matter.  I can't just put a pulley (perhaps a sewing machine bobbin) to change the direction of the pull, because it will be pulling from a harsh angle. The illustration below shows the green side being pulled.


Any ideas about how to bring up the magenta cutout?
I will mention that I looked at the idea of a horizontal periaktos (a triangular prism shape that rotates). Then, I could use 3D tableware.  But, the tableware would be limited to just under 7" high.



Any other ideas?
-Joe
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