George Thomas didn't cast his wife Maggie in A Chorus of Disapproval.

You can imagine the courage that took.

"Courage or stupidity," Thomas chuckles. "Well, she can't sing. What can I say? Everyone in this Alan Ayckbourn comedy has to sing and that's that.

"At least I had an out."

Ayckbourn's backstage comedy about actors rehearsing the adventures of Mack the Knife has 18 songs. They help to carry the plot. This comedy about community-theatre folk seeking a space in the spotlight is pretty much a morality tale.

That's Ayckbourn for you. He makes us laugh while exposing serious rents in British society.

Permitting a jaundiced look at Thatcher-era politics, he exposes the constraints ultraconservatism placed on public and private lives.

"The humour comes out of the internal machinations of the characters Ayckbourn creates," Thomas says. "I keep telling the actors this play isn't funny. Well, it is, of course. But it's all held within a sphere of social consciousness."

Ayckbourn digs under the skin, exposing sinew and bone. He allows a glimpse of things that are troubling. That's why he aligns his play with the wicked wit of John Gay's The Beggar's Opera (1728).

"Anyone who has ever worked in community theatre will identify with this one," Thomas grins. "They'll find all the tensions, peccadillos and petty jealousies that go on backstage.

"You'll recognize people you know here," Thomas says. "That may frighten you a little. But you'll laugh, too. I'm pretty certain of that."

There's little doubt Village Theatre Waterdown is taking a bit of a risk with this large-cast play.

"As soon as you get into casting in double digits, a play becomes difficult and troublesome to rehearse. With so many people you get clashes."

Thomas isn't afraid.

"I've always loved this play, so I didn't shy from that. I like the way it deals with all the compromises that go into making a play work, especially in community theatre."

Thomas agrees it's interesting Ayckbourn chose to set his comedy in the world of community rather than professional theatre.

"He certainly understood the terrain," Thomas says, "and you know over the years he's been misunderstood. He's an intellectual writer but one that can make people laugh out loud. He has his finger on the pulse of what makes people tick. All his plays deal with real people and real situations. He's nailed the hypocrisy and greed of Thatcher's Britain. It's funny, yet pretty scary, stuff."

So is Thomas's wife still speaking to him? "Yes." he laughs. "Life's bigger than a play. Well, most of the time."

Gary Smith has written on theatre and dance for The Hamilton Spectator for more than 25 years.

Showtime

Who: George Thomas

What: A Chorus of Disapproval

Where: Village Theatre Waterdown

When: Nov. 27 to 29 and Dec. 4 to 6

Tickets: 905-690-7889