PATRON-MINETTE

'Patron-Minette' was the name given to the Thénardiers' street gang in the novel Les Misérables and the musical of the same name. They acted as secondary villains and were referred to, in the book, as 'Devils of Crime'. The gang, excluding Monsieur Thénardier and his wife, consisted of four men - 'Montparnasse', who in the book was simply abbreviated as 'Parnasse, and was in a slight romantic relationship with the Thénardier's daughter Eponine. The second was 'Claquesous', who was portrayed in both musical and book as a stocky wisecracker. Thirdly, there was 'Babet'. Babet was portrayed as a tall character with little patience. Finally, there was 'Brujon', who was portrayed, like Babet, to have little patience. He was fat, and had a loud booming voice. Brujon did not appear in the novel and instead - there was a man named 'Guelemer'.

Contents

The Gang in the Musical

The Gang in the Musical

The Patron-Minette appear in two songs, but only have dialogue in one. In The Attack on Rue Plumet, they are all rather impatient with Thénardier. Brujon demands the job be finished, and then commands Eponine quiet when she threatens to scream. Claquesous makes a joke on the argument between Thénardier and Eponine. When Thénardier fails to recognise his own daughter - it is Babet who reveals her. Montparnasse, like Thénardier, tries desparately to keep Eponine quiet. They flee at the same time as Thénardier when Eponine screams.