Musical Based on Schwartz’s Deli Opens in Montreal

Schwartz’s: The Musical features a singing pickle, and pits corporate Toronto against soulful Montreal.

“Is that a pickle in your pants or are you just happy to see me?” That’s just one of the typically vaudevillian jokes from the musical based on Montreal’s most famous deli, which opened this past weekend to mixed reviews. Written by comedy team Bowswer & Blue, the play’s plot somewhat predictably depicts fictional attempts by a soulless Toronto businesswoman to buy the beloved Montreal landmark and turn it into a faceless North American franchise. Using the hackneyed dichotomy of Montrealers as down to earth and Torontonians as heartless corporate drones won’t play well outside la belle province, but so far audiences in Montreal are eating it up like so much warm brisket. Tickets are 80 per cent sold out.