Selected One-Acts

A PICKLE (60-65 minutes, drama/ comedy)

(1F)

For the second year in a row, the Minnesota State Fair rejects Doris Rubenstein’s traditional kosher dill pickles. When Doris confronts the judges, it becomes clear that they don’t understand her traditional Jewish brining process. They also inform her they have “a difficult time judging recently arrived immigrant groups.” Doris realizes there’s more than pickles fermenting, there’s hell to raise. A PICKLE is a darkly comedic look at prejudice and the power of Chutzpah (outrageous gumption). Based on a true story.

Winner of  Minneapolis’ 2017 BroadwayWorld Regional Award for Best Original /  New Work

“A thought-provoking examination of prejudice, wrapped in some serious comedy.” –2017 MN Fringe Reviewer

“Sometimes a pickle is more than just a pickle. Sometimes it’s a symbol of one’s cultural heritage, a symbol of inclusion. Such is the true story of Doris Rubenstein’s pickles. In a nearly perfect hour of theater, playwright Deborah Yarchun has written the story as an engaging one-woman show… It’s no wonder this show sold out all of its performances and won the encore slot.” — Cherryandspoon.com

“…the show talks prejudice without being preachy, and the comedic dialogue is impressively colorful.” – The Star Tribune

[2023] Production, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre Company
[2022] Semi-Finalist, Jewish Plays Projects National Competition
[2021] Production, Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company
[2021] Production, Jewish Theatre of Bloomington
[2018] Production, The Twin Cities Jewish Humor Festival
[2017] Production, Really Spicy Opera, at the Minnesota Fringe Festival and Bryant Lake Bowl
[2014] Workshop,  The Playwrights’ Center

PERCEPTION PLAY (15-20 minutes, horror / dark comedy)

(1F, 1 M or F)

A young woman enters a Turrell installation at an art museum in Pittsburgh. It’s pitch black. She thinks she’s alone. And then she hears breathing.

[2013] Premiered at FlushInk Theater in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada as part of UnHinged: A Festival of Disturbing Theater
[2013] Commissioned by Generous Theater Company and initially presented at GUMBO, a festival of new works exploring the connections between neurobiology and art at Baltimore Theatre Project

SPINAL ALIGNMENT (15 minutes, drama / comedy)

(1F, 1M)

After a brief 2 AM dating site meet-up at the Midtown East McDonalds, Sheila goes with Donovan to his grungy apartment. Their casual encounter quickly morphs into an existential crisis as they struggle to connect.

[2013] Published in The Book of EstroGenius 2011
[2011] Premiered at EstroGenius Festival at Manhattan Theater Source

MOLD (40 minutes, horror / dark comedy)

(2F, 1M)

Jess has serious problems. Her apartment is dirty. Very dirty. And Gert, the decrepit cleaning woman, is not helping. Also, Jess has to deal with Rick, the repairman who breaks things. If only Jess could get her bathroom sparkling clean, she might be able to finally talk to her Laundromat crush Trevor.  But as her failed attempts to clean her apartment lead to increasingly violent impulses, she is forced to confront her own psychic dirt.

[2013] Student production, University of Iowa