Duet for life: the secrets of popularity Tarapunka and Plugs

• Duet for life: the secrets of popularity Tarapunka Plug and

June 2 marks the 97 th anniversary of Ukrainian actor Yuri Timoshenko's birthday. His real name is hardly known to anyone: all-Union popularity he gained the pseudonym Tarapunka, speaking more than 40 years in a duet with Yefim Berezin (PLUG). Their satirical reprise enjoyed incredible success and Tarapunka and Plug duo was inseparable, not only on stage but also in everyday life.

Yuri Timoshenko (Tarapunka)

Yuri Timoshenko was born in Poltava, since childhood he was interested in theater and cinema. In 1937 he entered the Kiev Theater Institute. It was there that he met with from Odessa Efim Berezin, with whom they became friends and colleagues for a lifetime. They met at the student skit, where both played with humorous reprises. Following the presentation of Tymoshenko came to the Berezina, and said: "If we are on stage we will together, then laughter in the audience will be twice as much." So there was a duet, which existed for over 40 years.

Yuri Timoshenko (front row center) and Efim Berezin (on the right in the top row) - concert artists Brigade Song and Dance Ensemble of the Southwestern Front, 1942

According to the 1941 graduation of the graduates gathered to participate in the All-Union Competition entertainers, but then the war started. Tymoshenko and Berezin to maintain the morale of the soldiers began to tour as a part of the song and dance ensemble of the South-Western Front. The repertoire was satirical skits ridiculing the Nazis. In 1945, together with the Red Army soldiers entered Berlin artists to give it "winning" Concert.

One of the most popular films of the duo - * Plug marries Tarapunka *

Famous Characters Tarapunka and plug appeared after the war. Username Yuri Timoshenko is derived from the name of the river in Poltava - Tarapunka and the plug got this name due to the fact that often played a rigger, besides it perfectly characterized his hero - all repaired, the entire find an explanation, all laid out on shelves. Plug always spoke Russian and Tarapunka - only in Ukrainian, each broadcast he began with the words "Zdoroven'ki boule!".

The famous pop duo Yuri Timoshenko and Efim Berezin

Duet Tarapunka Plug and liked by the audience and won the All-Union popularity. In addition to performing on stage, they removed 7 short films in which they were directors, writers and artists. The most famous stories - "Tarapunka and plug in the clouds" and "Plug marries Tarapunka".

Plug and Tarapunka

the duo's success can be attributed to many reasons. First, coordinated work, work ability, talent and a clear understanding of their goals. The duo was indeed inseparable, just once because they occurred quarrel broke joint performances a year, but then returned to the scene and did not leave until the end. Their friendship was so strong that one refused the title of Honored Artist, until he was awarded the second.

In the second place, the duo's success is ensured and well-designed characters variety of characters: Tarapunka - sharp-tongued, ironic, simple-minded, but who can stand up for themselves, "canny" plug - quiet, important, thoughtful, arrogant, always self-righteous, teach lover. When the plug begins to "philosophize" Tarapunka put him in his place caustic one-liners. In these characters the audience recognized the widespread character - a smug urban and rural simpleton. They are appreciated for the "truth of life".

Reprise Tarapunka and plugs were popular not only among the common people, but also the authorities: no government concert did not do without them. They were especially fond of Nikita Khrushchev. But satire on modern society then could not be free and uncontrolled. In the 1960s, their texts were censored, and before going to a concert in the Kremlin, they brought the script to the Central Committee of Ukraine for approval.

From the 1950s to the 1980s. Tarapunka Plug and were the most popular artists in the USSR, they toured with his reprises throughout the Union. Despite this, the title of the popular they did not receive - because they were not members of the CPSU. For this reason, they are not released abroad. In 1986, on tour in Uzhgorod Yuri Timoshenko died. Yefim Berezin for some time acted alone, but did not enjoy the same success. Soon he went to his daughter in Israel and stayed there until his death. He died in 2004