Tamino meets Godzilla

I need a monster.

At the very beginning of The Magic Flute, Tamino (the hero) is threatened by a monster of some kind, and faints from fear. The libretto describes it as a "giftige Schlange"-- a venomous serpent. (English National Opera had a python-type snake strangling Tamino, while Covent Garden had a giant snake-puppet operated by multiple people.)

I want the monster to return at least once after the first scene: to dance with Tamino when he plays his flute, in order to show that he's no longer quite so helpless. If I can get a really good monster, I'll work out ways to give it some more stage-time.

I think I need a dragon. Preferably a 2-person costume. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make one that doesn't look completely lame?

Tamino meets Godzilla

I need a monster.

At the very beginning of The Magic Flute, Tamino (the hero) is threatened by a monster of some kind, and faints from fear. The libretto describes it as a "giftige Schlange"-- a venomous serpent. (English National Opera had a python-type snake strangling Tamino, while Covent Garden had a giant snake-puppet operated by multiple people.)

I want the monster to return at least once after the first scene: to dance with Tamino when he plays his flute, in order to show that he's no longer quite so helpless. If I can get a really good monster, I'll work out ways to give it some more stage-time.

I think I need a dragon. Preferably a 2-person costume. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make one that doesn't look completely lame?