‘Buzz Saw’ reading is Oct. 17 at historical society

The Winona County Historical Society is presenting a stage reading of “Buzz Saw,” a play written by SMU professor emeritus Michael Flanagan. It is being presented at the Winona County Historical Society on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. Admission for the reading is free, and the presentation will be followed by a discussion and reception.

The play deals with Winonan Mat Wagner, who ran for mayor of Winona in the depth of the Depression in 1931. Two days before the election, he sold 600 dozen eggs to people for 1 cent per dozen when they were going for about 18 cents per dozen. He also put out a newspaper called the “Buzz Saw,” in which he accused local Winona officials of doing all sorts of civically inappropriate things. Two days later he was elected Mayor of Winona, but then ran into considerable legal hassles because of the eggs and the “Buzz Saw.”

Included in the staged reading cast are Ray Felton, Ken McCullough, Orion McCullough-Smith, Sarah Landman, Eric Sorenson, Patrick Marek, Justin Vann, Dan Munson, John Kerr, John Edstrom, Rod Oppreicht, Margaret Shaw Johnson, and Ethan Krase.

The reading is being presented by Theatre du Mississippi, with theatre committee members Lynn Nankivil and Sarah Aydlett coordinating. The presentation is directed by Judith Schmidt.

For more information, call the Winona County Historical Society at 454-2723.