Mrs. Roper revelers at Tea Dance.
Photo: by Jeff Gray
by Steve Desroches
Costuming has long been a part of Provincetown culture. Throughout the town’s history there’s of course been Halloween and Carnival, the White Party, the Beaux-Arts Balls, John Dowd’s Fourth of July soirees, theme nights at the A House, and parties like Fag Bash and Kook. And now, increasingly, Tea Dance has become a grand occasion for which to dress up. Last year the Boatslip launched Mrs. Roper Tea Dances, tapping into a national craze of Mrs. Roper Romps in which people dress as the character from the 1970s hit sitcom Three’s Company. Held on Tuesdays, traditionally the slowest day of the week, according to resident DJ and vibe manager Maryalice Kalaghan, adding the Mrs. Roper theme filled the seaside venue with revelers in caftans, red wigs, and clunky junk jewelry. Gays do love a theme and it shows in Provincetown.
This summer the Boatslip is adding more themes for Tea Dance, as they are not only growing in popularity, but often requested by patrons. Provincetown in general, and especially Tea Dance, has become a bit of a pop culture barometer in that people expect the town to provide an outlet to respond to the latest fad, trend, or hit show.
“That’s why we’re doing it,” says Kalaghan. “I’ve been noticing it for a few years now. People just started showing up dressed up, especially groups. Then we started getting calls asking what the theme was for a certain Tea Dance. It had become so commonplace people started to assume we were coming up with themes, but we weren’t. Cos play is really big with the younger generation, too, so dressing up to go out is much more of thing everywhere now.”
So, in addition to Solid Gold Tea Dance, which plays classic disco, in which people come in head-to-toe gold, and I Love the 90s and Dog Tag Tea Dance, a retro and fetish themed event, respectively, Pretty in Pink and the Mrs. Roper Romps will continue. But new for this season are the Real Housewives of Tea Dance as well as Heated Rival-Tea, a nod to the smash hit Canadian gay hockey romance show, Heated Rivalry. There will also be some one-off events for Pride and Carnival, and also a Britney Spears inspired tea. But Kalaghan then opened it up to include Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, and more with Bad Decisions: Ooops I Did It Again Tea Dance.
“I felt bad for her when she got a DUI,” says Kalaghan. “So, I opened it up to all the poorly behaved pop stars of the 2000s.”
Tea Dance runs at the Boatslip Resort and Beach Club, 161 Commercial St, Provincetown, now through November 8. For specific dates, themes, and more information call 508.487.1669 or visit theboatslip.com.
