Timoshenko and Berezin

(stage names, Tarapun’ka and Shtepsel’). Soviet comedians performing as an estrada (variety stage) team.

Iurii Trofimovich Timoshenko. Born June 2, 1919, in Poltava. People’s Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1960).

Efim losifovich Berezin. Born Nov. 11, 1919, in Odessa. People’s Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1960).

Timoshenko and Berezin both graduated from the Kiev Theatrical Institute in 1941. During the Great Patriotic War (1941–45), they appeared in the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Southwestern Front, performing as the cook Galkin (Berezin) and the bathhouse attendant Mochalkin (Timoshenko). After the war they appeared as the militiaman Tarapun’ka (Timoshenko) and the electrician Shtepsel’ (Berezin). The combination of Russian and Ukrainian languages helps them to exploit the rich humor of both peoples.

Timoshenko and Berezin at first performed two-man routines and solo acts and later presented original stage shows, such as How They Took Their Variety Show to a Ten-day Festival, Exactly Twenty and a Bit More, A Comical-Mechanical Show, and From—To. They wrote, directed, and performed in comedy films, including Shtepsel’ Marries off Tarapun’ka and We Were Going on and On.

Timoshenko has been awarded the State Prize of the USSR (1950), four orders, and various medals. Berezin has been awarded three orders, as well as various medals.