'Oh, Helen!' Mrs. Roper clones ready to romp downtown Lake Worth Beach
They'll be waiting for you Jan. 31 at 'Mrs. Roper's Romp for the Rescues,' a fundraiser converting your favorite local bars into temporary Regal Beagles
Red alert! Downtown Lake Worth Beach is about to be romped by an incursion of Mrs. Ropers!
They will be hard to miss — dozens of loud redheads (and orangeheads) with clunky jewelry, oversized sunglasses and flowing kaftans cha-cha-cha-ing along Lake Avenue after 4 p.m on Jan. 31, converting their favorite L-Dub watering holes into temporary Regal Beagles.
It’s the second “Mrs. Roper’s Romp for the Rescues,’’ a spin-off of the popular bar-hopping “Roper Romps” across the United States that pay homage to the beloved Helen Roper, the life-of-the-party landlady played by Audra Lindley in the ABC hit sitcom “Three’s Company” (1977-1984).
For the uninitiated, here’s a brief “Three’s Company” primer, courtesy of a 2023 New York Times story about the exploding popularity of Roper Romps:
“Risqué in its day, “Three’s Company” was about three roommates — originally Chrissy (Suzanne Somers), Janet (Joyce DeWitt) and Jack (John Ritter) — who shared a Santa Monica apartment. Their nutty downstairs landlords were the libidinous but sex-starved Helen and her husband, Stanley (Norman Fell), who only agreed to the trio’s living arrangement because he mistakenly thought Jack was gay, or more precisely, a ‘tinkerbell.’”
By today’s standards, “the show might be considered retrograde in its attitudes toward feminism and homosexuality. But when it aired, its randy suggestiveness pushed broadcast boundaries. Mrs. Roper was its progressive Pole Star: Freethinking and voluptuary, she pooh-poohed her husband’s anti-gay slights and illustrated for Janet and Chrissy how an older woman could have sexual agency.’’
Though a minor character on show, Helen built a major cult following, inspiring the first Roper Romp in 2013 in New Orleans, which ignited a festive fire that spread to bars and events from Leavenworth, Wash., to Topeka, Kansas, to Wilton Manors, Fla. — even to cruise ships at sea.
After attending a Roper Romp in Delray Beach a few years ago, Rebecca Washam and her friend Kellie Davis decided to organize a Lake Worth Beach romp to raise money for dog and cat rescues.
To their pleasant surprise, about 50 people attended in November 2024, an eclectic spectacle of wig-wearing merrymakers and spontaneous shout-outs of show dialogue and bursts of the theme song: “Come on knock on our door…we’ve been waiting for you…”
“My husband dressed up as Chrissy. We had some Mr. Furleys, some Mrs. Ropers with beards. There’s a lot of ‘Hello, Helens’ and ‘Hello, Stanleys’ and a few ‘Oh, Stanleys,’’’ Washam said.
“When we are out and about, older people get it right away. Some of the younger people are like, ‘I don’t know what you are, but this is fabulous.’’’
She’s hoping at least 100 Mrs. Ropers show up on Jan. 31.
The party starts at 4 p.m. at Lilo’s Streetfood & Bar at 701 Lake Ave. The cha-cha-cha-ing will continue at Irish Brigade, then perhaps Dave’s Last Resort and Igot’s, before ending up at Rudy’s Pub at 21 S. J St. around 8:30 p.m.
At Rudy’s, there will be live music by the F’Ness Band, featuring Dr. Sal on guitar. Raffle tickets for gift baskets and gift certificates will be sold throughout the night, with all proceeds benefiting Blessed Paws Animal Rescue and Wild Whiskers.
Oh, and you’re invited!
If you don’t feel like scouring second-hand stores for an orange wig or festive kaftan, Mrs. Roper costumes are available on Amazon.
“It’s a bunch of Mrs. Roper clones, and I’ve got to say the kaftan is very comfortable to wear,’’ Washam said.
“It’s such a good vibe. You’ll meet new friends. With everyone being in costume, it kind of livens it up.’’
For more information, click here.
Darn it. I REALLY wish I could go to this. Am am not here. Rats. Looks like fun.