Imagine a group of high school students managing to keep an entire auditorium in stitches without uttering a single word.
That’s exactly what happened when the students from South Kitsap High School took to the stage.
Dressed in hooded costumes and armed with signs, they were about to deliver a performance that would leave a lasting impression.
The Christmas season is a time for joy and entertainment, and these teens brought a unique twist to the festivities.
They chose to perform George Frideric Handel’s famous “Hallelujah” chorus, a piece usually associated with powerful church choirs.
However, these students, dubbed the “silent monks,” had a different approach – they couldn’t speak a word, relying instead on their signs to convey the message.
As the iconic song echoed through the auditorium, each student played a crucial role.
The monks in the front row flipped their yellow cards to display lyrics like “For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” while those at the back were tasked with the grand word “Hallelujah!”
The coordination and timing were impeccable, creating a visually amusing and engaging performance.
The “Hallelujah” chorus is known for its range of high and low notes, and the students’ skit cleverly mirrored this.
They positioned their signs high or low depending on the pitch of the note.
This added a layer of subtle humor to their “silent singing,” especially with lines like “And He shall reign forever and ever…”
Keep an eye out for the shorter monk towards the end, on the right.
His struggle to align his sign with the high notes is both endearing and hilarious, often requiring him to jump just to get his sign in the right place.
It’s these little details that make the performance truly memorable.
The video of this performance has captivated audiences far and wide, amassing over 21 million views.
Viewers have been quick to praise its creativity and humor.
Carolyn, a viewer, couldn’t contain her admiration, saying:
“This is the most hilarious video I’ve ever seen! I can only imagine the hours and hours of practice that went into this. Congratulations to these students!”
While these teens executed the skit flawlessly, they weren’t the first to come up with the idea.
The concept has a history, as revealed by Mike Allen, presumably the music teacher behind this production.
He shared, “I think the original idea was on a variety show in the late 60’s. I saw an early version of it done by another high school and asked permission to do it and they were great about it. I’ve shipped our monk costumes to different states to use in their own productions. Good times. It was fun preparing it. We’ve done it a couple of times since but there’s nothing like the original!”
This Christmas performance is one you’ll want to watch year after year.
It’s funny, creative, and has that feel-good vibe that’s perfect for this joyous season.
And to think – these teens didn’t even have to say a word!
To experience this unique and hilarious rendition of the “Hallelujah” chorus for yourself, check out the video below!
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