JOSE DE CORDOBA And NORMA NIURKA Herald Staff Writers

After days of heated debate and shifting positions, it was still unclear Friday night whether a play by controversial Cuban exile writer Dolores Prida will be canceled or go on next Friday as scheduled, causing a boycott of the First Annual Festival of Hispanic Theatre by several local theater groups.

"As of 6:20, May 2, as far as I know, the producer intends to put on the production," said Olga Garay-Ahearn, of the Dade County Council of Arts and Sciences, one of the event's sponsors. "Mind you, there are changes on a half-hour basis."

Wednesday, the play, Coser y Cantar, was canceled by its producer-director, Rafael de Acha, after some members of Acting Together, the umbrella theater group co-sponsoring the festival, objected to Prida's stand in favor of U.S. relations with Cuba.

Thursday, the cancellation was announced on Miami Spanish- language radio stations, which had vigorously protested Prida's appearance.

Prida, who lives in New York, contacted the American Civil Liberties Union, which began investigating the possibility of legal actions for violations of her civil rights.

Friday, an emergency meeting was held with a county attorney, the play's producers and officials from the council, which is funding the festival. Afterwards, council director Kenneth Kahn said: "Officially, the show is on." Asked if that decision would stick, he said: "It's an interesting call."

Kahn said he told de Acha the county would withdraw its $1,000 in funding if his theater group did not perform Coser y Cantar. The reason, Kahn said, was to protect the county from possible legal action.

De Acha acknowledged he had met with Kahn, but would not comment about whether Prida's play would be performed.

Yamile Amador, a young actress slated to play the English- speaking alter-ego of a Hispanic woman in Prida's play, said rehearsals for Coser y Cantar stopped Wednesday. Since then, the cast was rehearsing another play, Juegos de Damas, by Cuban exile author Julio Matas.

Theater sources who asked not to be identified said another play, Los Heroes Caidos, was also being rehearsed as an alternative to Coser y Cantar.

At least three local theater groups have threatened to pull out of the festival if Prida's play is not canceled.

"Miami is not New York," said Marta Perez, a director of GRATELI, one of the groups. "Miami is the capital of anti- Communism and anti-Castroism."

In a telephone interview, Prida said that even if her play is canceled, she will attend the festival, where she is scheduled to take part in several panel discussions.

"I am outraged about this," she said. "We Cubans came here looking for the freedom of expression not allowed in Cuba and there are some people here who have the same mentality."