Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...Hunter, who won great acclaim for "The Whale" at Victory Gardens a few years ago, doesn't necessarily tell us anything new about the hardships of life, whether on the road or stuck in the backwash of the American dream. But like Carver, he knows these people and cares about them. That compassionate eye, combined with Akin's production, which nails the combination of pathos and absurdity in the story, makes "The Few" a solid achievement in a minor key."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...The play is at once soft and hard, sentimental and cool, giving and cryptic: a modest, assured, often funny look at the struggle between love and survival. Though there's room for Peter Moore to push further into the hard-bitten, you've got to admire his restraint as Bryan. Dana Black is delightful for all her cussedness as Bryan's jilted girlfriend. And Travis Coe's performance as a damaged teen manages to be over-the-top and precise at the same time."
Time Out Chicago - Recommended
"...Moore, Steep's artistic director, a master at playing weary and resigned, imbues Bryan with requisite depth, and Black, an off-Loop favorite who's often known (and loved) for deliciously broad roles, gives what might be her most grounded and affecting performance yet. Travis Coe's turn as Matthew, a troubled young man who's invested his whole being in keeping the paper running in Bryan's absence, is a bit too mannered. But Hunter's signature affection for his small-town characters comes through strongly, and director Brad Akin's production of one of the too few contemporary plays to consider these kinds of American lives gives them their due."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...The Few is a sleeper; it is a one of the finest acted plays you’ll see this year! We empathize with these three sad lives. We relate to the strange plot twists and we are satisfied with the conclusion. The realism and the honesty of these three characters play as if we had a spy camera in the newspaper trailer to record actual events. Steep Theatre, long been producing fine theatre, has mounted one of the best shows of the year. Don’t miss this wonderful, honest and character-driven play. It will reach into your heart."
The Fourth Walsh - Recommended
"...Although THE FEW is a tribute to the lonely work of truckers, it is relatable in anyone’s quest for life fulfillment. When we unravel Hunter’s story, we find unhappy reveals, uplifting moments and unknown outcomes. That is life in a nutshell! THE FEW is an honest, thought-provoking examination of human existence."
Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended
"...Hunter is a national treasure, and Steep’s production of The Few is an excellent introduction to the playwright as well as a reward for the die-hard fan. As with previous characters, Hunter treats this downtrodden trio with respect and courage, acknowledging their shortcomings as well as their strengths. The open road beckons to many of us, not just long-haul truckers, but The Few reminds us of the many roadblocks distance can create – as well as the living, breathing humans residing off of each exit."
NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...For its riches of acting and directing, this play still comes up short. Hunter spends a bit too much time trying to convince us of what we are not privy to. These are shitty people by admission rather than action. Groping for the stars, “The Few” trips on the pavement."