Bad Overtures?

There's a list of generally agreed upon "best overtures" but do people have examples of what they consider terrible overtures (especially when the score is good)?  I feel like most of them fall into the "serviceable but not that notable" category so wondering what people would consider actively bad.

On the flip side, are there any shows where the score was mediocre but the overture managed to elevate it?

Legally Blond had an awful, synthesized overture

I thought the Tootsie overture was as bad as it gets.  The real problem was that the score sucked.

Interestingly, re Funny Girl, I remember the original production having a great overture.  I saw Funny Girl last night and was very disappointed with the overture.  Did I remember the original incorrectly?  Was this just  different (and inferior to the original)?  Was the real issue that the orchestra was so thin?  I don't know, but I was disappointed.

Updated On: 10/21/22 at 11:54 PM

Funny Girl set the standard for great overtures that elevated the proceedings substantially.  As for "bad" overtures, the one for Cats comes to mind.  

Not "bad", exactly, but I do think that for a show with so many great tunes, it's unfortunate that Hello, Dolly! has never had a great overture. The original production played without one, as I understand it, but there have been a few different versions used in subsequent productions, none of which have been all that great, IMO.

As far as an overture that is better than the score it draws from, I humbly submit the overture from Goodtime Charley.

Jarethan said: "I thought the Tootsie overture was as bad as it gets. The real problem was that the score sucked.

Interestingly, re Funny Girl, I remember the original production having a great overture. I saw Funny Girl last night and was very disappointed with the overture. Did I remember the original incorrectly? Was this just different (and inferior to the original)? Was the real issue that the orchestra was so thin? I don't know, but I was disappointed."

Most likely the awfully thin orchestra. It´s a wonderful overture, beautifully arranged, but you do need a large string and brass sections and at least two percussionists (the keyboard xylo sucks!) for it to shine. This version is my personal favorite:

Funny Girl Broadway Overture (Live in Concert) - YouTube

Probably controversial but Showboat, so many glorious tunes and the overture does a terrible job of selling them. Similarly I don't think I've ever liked a South Pacific overture.

Elibal said: "Probably controversial but Showboat, so many glorious tunes and the overture does a terrible job of selling them."

I so agree. And it’s a wonderful score that deserves a better overture. There are many different versions, and so many of them start somberly.

Lehman Engel has a nice short (45 second) one on an album which is not the traditional SB overture.

KISS ME, KATE might not have a 'bad' overture, but the way that they placed the Entr'acte at the start of the original Broadway cast album has got me attuned to finding that the much better opening for the show. Others seem to agree; as I recall the original Entr'acte music has now pretty much become the overture that's inserted into 'Another Openin', Another Show' for recent productions.

BRIGADOON. Again I'm probably just too accustomed to another opening, but the film's main titles gives us a pretty segment of 'The Heather on the Hill' which I miss from the stage overture.

Fan123 said: "KISS ME, KATE might not have a 'bad' overture, but the way that they placed the Entr'acte at the start of the original Broadway cast album has got me attuned to finding that the much better opening for the show. Others seem to agree; as I recall the original Entr'acte music has now pretty much become the overture that's inserted into 'Another Openin', Another Show' for recent productions."

I'd love to hear a fabulous Kiss Me, Kate overture some day. I don't like the way current productions drop it into the middle of the opening number.