They sing too! - unexpected actors in musicals

[Posner11]

One of the many delights in seeing Sweeny Todd recently (main delight being it really is as good as all the reviews/forums have said!) was to see John Bowe as Judge Turpin and him having several solo musical moments - Having only seen him over the years as normally staid straight acting roles in various police/crime roles and the odd comic part it was a big surprise to see him center stage in a musical.

Maybe less of a issue if you are London based as John previous musicals seem to have been in London but for the now rare visitor to London (too damm expensive now) its nice to see a new side to a performer - anyone else had a similar suprise when seeing a show and a actor you just would not expect to see in a musical?

[Scripps2]

I thought John Bowe was the best Judge Turpin I've seen - he made the character thoroughly repugnant and reprehensible. At the matinee I saw Todd got cheers from the audience when he finally got his revenge on the Judge.

I remember seeing James Laurenson in 42nd Street. he was an unexpected actor in a musical but I wouldn't say he could sing - he didn't lack volume but you could certainly hear that he wasn't hitting the notes.

[Taboolie2]

Not sure if this counts as it is a musical on film - Meryl Streep. I was surpised she had trained as a singer. Didn't know Russel Crowe could sing or Eddie Redmayne either. was hoping Aaton Tveit would be Marius. After all he is also a TV star (if they want a name). Looking forward to seeing the KLes Mis film.
Agree re sweeny Todd. Sad it finished yesterday.