The North American theater scene is starting to reflect the greater cultural and political polarization seen during the recent U.S. elections. "In terms of values - that is political, moral and ethnic perspectives - North American theater is becoming somewhat polarized," Festival Adjudicator Annette Procunier said. "We're going into a time of challenge."

This observation came up in Procunier's talk-back session on Sunday afternoon that capped off the Theatre Association of New York's 45th annual festival, held this year at Cayuga Community College. The three-day festival included workshops, productions by state community theaters, and an award ceremony. TANYS, a non-profit organization, is the primary voice of non-professional and educational theater in New York state.

Procunier's comments were sparked by an observation from Ed Scutt, from Rochester, who noticed that among the plays at this year's festivals, "there were a lot of religious and spiritual quests and comedies." He asked Procunier if she had sensed any thematic unifying theme.

"Yes, the pursuit of fundamentalism," Procunier said. "The pendulum is swinging. And there's a potential to run into risks with the level of polarization that is emerging." Among the risks is "an element of self-censorship." Theater companies might be hesitant to take on plays and productions where the audience might be potentially offended by its content, she said.

Michael Arve, from Rochester, reminisced about the greater freedom he had years ago when he coached high school theater productions. Schools and artists that work with students have become more cautious in what plays they choose or how they choose to interpret those plays.

Procunier also talked about finding the playwright's intention, character development, and the difference between "reality" and "truth." "I don't have to believe reality, I just have to see it," she said. Whereas "truth is not a literal translation of reality but what's accepted. It's creating a thought in the audience's mind that something is what it is not."

She also spoke about the difference between directing amateur and professional actors. "With amateurs, you have to teach technique as well as character," she noted.

Procunier has been adjudicating theater festivals in North America, Britain, and Europe for 18 years. A few weeks before coming to Auburn, she adjudicated at the Yakamo International Festival in Japan.

The TANYS Festival was held in Auburn two years ago, and will be held here again next year. "We like Auburn. It's a very, very receptive community. And CCC really rolls out the red carpet for us," said festival Chairperson Ruth Legg.

Legg, who just began her term as president of TANYS, works with the Geneva Theater Guild. She was a roving adjudicator for TANYS for 11 years. "I retired to do what I used to get paid for," said Legg, who headed the theater department at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua for 29 years.

Staff writer Mary Bulkot can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or mary.bulkot@lee.net