A play set against the backdrop of the case of an Ontario nurse who killed eight elderly patients has drawn polarized reactions from some of the victimsB次元官网网址� family members.

A theatre in Blyth, Ont., north of London, is staging a show next month that dramatizes the fallout of the murders committed by Elizabeth Wettlaufer.

Wettlaufer is serving a life sentence after confessing to killing eight patients with insulin overdoses and attempting to kill four others at long-term care facilities and private homes in Ontario for about a decade.

Blyth Festival Theatre artistic director Gil Garratt, who co-wrote the play with Kelly McIntosh, said B次元官网网址淚n the Wake of WettlauferB次元官网网址� will not portray the serial killer or her crimes.

Rather, Garratt said the production seeks to explore the impact of a case that B次元官网网址渋rrevocably changedB次元官网网址� communities within southwestern Ontario, and raised questions about gaps in long-term care of seniors more broadly.

B次元官网网址淲e bear a responsibility, as a community and as a society, for what weB次元官网网址檝e allowed to occur here,B次元官网网址� Garratt said.

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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not to say that weB次元官网网址檙e responsible for the crimes of Elizabeth Wettlaufer; she is responsible for those crimes. But we have a responsibility for having allowed (the long-term care) system to become what it has.B次元官网网址�

The plot follows a group of siblings struggling to make a decision about how to best care for their aging father who has dementia. After the patriarchB次元官网网址檚 death, the family is sent reeling when itB次元官网网址檚 revealed that Wettlaufer worked at the long-term care facility they had put him in.

Eight relatives of WettlauferB次元官网网址檚 victims were consulted in the process of developing the show, Garratt said.

One of those family members, Daniel Silcox, said when he heard about the show, he was initially concerned that it would sensationalize the stories of victims like his father, 84-year-old James Silcox, who was murdered in 2007.

But after speaking to the playwrights, Daniel Silcox said it was clear they had done their homework on the case, and he was reassured by their sensitivity to the feelings of the victimsB次元官网网址� families.

One of his requests was that the play be suffused with a message of hope about repairing the long-term care system so no one else has to suffer the loss his family has experienced.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to see this play be part of my fatherB次元官网网址檚 legacy,B次元官网网址� Silcox said by phone from Pontypool, Ont. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want him to go out as a victim of Elizabeth Wettlaufer. I want him to go out as a war hero, a wonderful father, and somebody who in his own small way contributed to improving the long-term care industry.B次元官网网址�

Silcox and his sisters will be in the audience on the showB次元官网网址檚 opening night on Aug. 9.

Meanwhile, Susan Horvath said if her health allows, sheB次元官网网址檒l be outside the theatre picketing.

Her father, 75-year-old Arpad Horvath, was killed in 2014 at Meadow Park Long Term Care in London, Ont.

Although Garratt said another member of Arpad HorvathB次元官网网址檚 family is involved in the show, Susan Horvath said she was not approached to offer her input.

Many victimsB次元官网网址� families are still grappling with the grief that resurfaced as part of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 public inquiry into the case, which is due to release a final report on July 31, and she said seeing WettlauferB次元官网网址檚 name B次元官网网址済lamorized on stageB次元官网网址� will only cause further pain.

B次元官网网址淭he victims arenB次元官网网址檛 even over this. WeB次元官网网址檙e still in shock and itB次元官网网址檚 getting worse as time goes on,B次元官网网址� she said.

When it comes to having an impact on how long-term care facilities are run, itB次元官网网址檚 the government that will make change happen, not a theatrical play, she added.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an opportunity for them to make money off the devastation of victims,B次元官网网址� she said.

Garratt said the theatre has been working with Susan HorvathB次元官网网址檚 lawyer to assuage her concerns.

The Blyth Festival Theatre is not-for-profit, he noted, suggesting the costs of the production will outweigh the potential box office.

He said the playwrights didnB次元官网网址檛 reach out to all the family members of victims out of respect for their privacy, and encouraged those who are B次元官网网址渢oo affectedB次元官网网址� by the show to try to avoid it.

Garratt argued that the productionB次元官网网址檚 proximity to the public inquiry only bolsters its relevance, allowing the play to engage in a conversation that Canada wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be having had WettlauferB次元官网网址檚 crimes not been exposed.

B次元官网网址淐ould we create a play about the Titanic without mentioning icebergs?B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓lizabeth WettlauferB次元官网网址檚 crimes have really punched a hole in the publicB次元官网网址檚 understanding of what long-term care is.B次元官网网址�

The showB次元官网网址檚 four-week run will also be accompanied by special programming about its themes, including a talk by author Lawrence Hill on Aug. 28 about his motherB次元官网网址檚 medically assisted death.

Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press