Shimon Dzigan
Encyclopedia
Shimon Dżigan was a Yiddish comedian. His father was a soldier in the Russian military. After the outbreak of the first world war Dzigan was apprenticed to a tailor to help the family make ends meet.
Moyshe Broderzon was impressed by Dzigan's improvised parodies in 1927 and invited Dzigan to join the Ararat literary cabaret (“Klein Kunst Theater”) that he was founding in Łódź. Later he joined the “Ararat” Yiddish Theatre, and after it was closed teamed up with Israel Shumacher
, to form the most famous Yiddish comic duo "Dzigan and Shumacher".
Dzigan & Shumacher made many films and stage shows in Poland
and later in Israel
. In 1935 they founded their own cabaret company (the "Nowości Theater") in Warsaw.
When German invaded Poland, Dzigan and Shumacher fled to Soviet-occupied Białystok where they pulled their company back together and toured Minsk, Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Kharkov, and other Soviet localities.
Both were incarcerated in a Stalinist work camp and managed to escape and rebuild in Israel the brilliant artistic path they had forged in Europe and the USA. They performed thirty years on stage and countless performances across the globe.
Their works were made into an historic Yiddish-language television program, broadcast in Israel in the 1970s.
After Shumacher died , Dzigan went on performing until his own death in 1980.
Moyshe Broderzon was impressed by Dzigan's improvised parodies in 1927 and invited Dzigan to join the Ararat literary cabaret (“Klein Kunst Theater”) that he was founding in Łódź. Later he joined the “Ararat” Yiddish Theatre, and after it was closed teamed up with Israel Shumacher
Israel Shumacher
Israel Shumacher was a Yiddish comedian who worked together with Shimon Dzigan, thus forming "Dzigan and Shumacher", one of the most famous Yiddish comic duos in the 20th century. Israel Shumacher first met Shimon Dzigan at the revolutionary Jewish theater in Łódź, Poland...
, to form the most famous Yiddish comic duo "Dzigan and Shumacher".
"(In fact, one of their most famous sketches, "Einstein Weinstein", plays a lot like "Who's on First."
Dzigan & Shumacher made many films and stage shows in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and later in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. In 1935 they founded their own cabaret company (the "Nowości Theater") in Warsaw.
"The performances of Dzigan and Shumacher typically opened with skits based on items from daily newspapers. Their humor was aimed at antisemites and government functionaries, but also at themselves and their public. Routines based on domestic life would follow. Dzigan’s persona was that of a hyperactive, happy beggar, endlessly complaining about life as he darted about the stage with his signature red handkerchief hanging from his pocket. The bespectacled Shumacher, in fundamental contrast, was phlegmatic and restrained, glossing his Jewish troubles with subtle gestures of the shoulders and hands."
When German invaded Poland, Dzigan and Shumacher fled to Soviet-occupied Białystok where they pulled their company back together and toured Minsk, Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Kharkov, and other Soviet localities.
Both were incarcerated in a Stalinist work camp and managed to escape and rebuild in Israel the brilliant artistic path they had forged in Europe and the USA. They performed thirty years on stage and countless performances across the globe.
Their works were made into an historic Yiddish-language television program, broadcast in Israel in the 1970s.
After Shumacher died , Dzigan went on performing until his own death in 1980.