20 Helens agree: Mrs. Roper Romp comes to Liverpool on Saturday

Audra Lindley played Helen Roper in the 1970s/80s sitcom Three’s Company. (IMDB)

If you see a group of women in downtown Liverpool on Saturday with frizzy wigs, colourful caftans and chunky jewelry, don’t worry.

It’s the first Mrs. Roper Romp for Liverpool. About 20 women plan to celebrate the brash and brassy Helen Roper from the corny and campy ’70s and ’80s sitcom Three’s Company.

Angie McWilliams lives in Summerville Centre. She and some friends wanted to start their own romp after they couldn’t get into the sold-out event in Halifax. The first Mrs. Roper Romp happened at the Southern Decadence parade in New Orleans more than 10 years ago.

“The actual original Roper Romp, it’s been around since 2013. A really great guy named Bud Moore started it in New Orleans for charity. And since then, it took off and it’s international now. Our little romp is only gooing to be 20 ladies. So we decied why not do it in Liverpool? And we’re going to raise money for the Queens County food bank with this romp. It’s going to be a mini romp this year but we’re hoping to grow it and just raise money and have a good time.”

It has since spread across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, South Africa, Spain and Portugal.

But why Mrs. Roper?

“Well, she’s an icon. I’m 54 years old, I grew up with Mrs. Roper. And it’s a costume, a disguise to have a really good time, wear some really, dare I say, tacky clothes and jewelry. And even preparing for it has been a lot of fun.” 

Men are more than welcome to join. 

“A lot of gentlemen join as Helens but they also join as Stanley Roper and the great Mr. Furley.”

The Mrs. Roper Romp starts at Route 3 Cellar Taproom and Grill at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Helens will be going to the Legion, down Main Street depending on the weather and back to the Legion before ending up at the Cellar for glow-in-the-dark bowling “in our caftans, which will be really crazy to see.”

Check out the Facebook event for the Mrs. Roper Romp here.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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