“In His Words: Voices of Fatherhood” by Creswick. At The Street Theatre until June 25. Reviewed by ARNE FEALING.

IN what is ultimately a magnum opus on fatherhood composed and delivered by a true master of his form, “In His Words: Voices of Fatherhood” was a triumph of sonic exposition.

With years of investigation on the subject to support him, Creswick (Liam Budge) trod on a few sacred cows, as the show investigated that touchy moment of emotional sobriety where fathers consider their role in their child’s life.

Tricky territory, made deeper as the journeying musician son of his own father allowed his meditations deepen and develop.

Sounding at moments like the long-serving apprentice of jazz great Vince Jones, Creswick’s concept could have had its genesis in one of Jones’s early tracks.

A little saccharine – talking about fatherhood can still be difficult for the neo-emasculated, Creswick discovers that space through interviewing other fathers, and translates the journey back into his songs. Using a musical landscape that was nothing short of ecstatic, clever and astoundingly beautiful, then at times curiously awkward, yet still captivating, this  jazz masterpiece succeeded.

Opening with amazing visuals, pulled together with well-edited interviews, the multi-disciplinary concept, executed by a professional production team and incredible ensemble of musicians (Brett Williams, Chris Pound, Ben Hauptmann and James Hauptmann), the performance was uplifting, emotional, frustrating and astounding all at once.

Walking a particularly fine line between how difficult it is to express the loving, challenging, vital role fathers play for the life of a budding human form, hinting constantly at its fragility and its weight,  it’s hard not to celebrate such a journey.

It is also impossible not to underplay the importance Creswick’s innate capacity to weave composition through his lyrical and documentary style investigation of the subject. It served to cleverly take a familiar experience and explode it into jazz, pop-rock territory.

The barefooted brilliance of the band leader may have left a touch more to refine, in order to avoid the most hidden aspects of a truth that almost wants to defy expression.

But place Freud in the audience and ask him to comment, and he might just disagree.