"He's a bit of a product of his time, he's been out on farm his whole life, he loves his work. Given that there are no kids, cows or veges in town it's a bit of a shock.
"He wasn't terribly pleased, but he's had his arm twisted by Glenda who is sick of being stuck out in the country."
The role is not completely foreign to Bartlett, who encountered Hart in a prequal play called C'mon Black!
"At first he's a definite stereotype but I think Roger is very clever, he's a great writer and he gives glimpses of the man underneath... He's a bloody good guy, he tells lots of jokes, he wants to entertain."
When Glenda decides jets off on an extended overseas adventure, he winds up coaching an under-10 rugby team - not the best players you've ever seen - indulging in local theatre and attracting the odd dinner date.
At first he targets latte-drinking yuppies, real estate people and radio hosts but, "once he has stated those, Dickie goes through a journey from isolation to a much more human and understanding feel," Bartlett says. "The city is scary, but soon his outlook on life is broadened by the people he encounters, he accepts them whole heartedly because he's a fair chap."
Audiences can expect to have a laugh along the way.
"It's classic Roger Hall, you could take anybody to it and not offend them. I suppose the underlying messages about Dickie give it immediate appeal to baby boomers who are in that time of their lives."
You Gotta Be Joking! will be at Hawke's Bay Opera House on Monday from 7.30pm. Tickets are $39.90 at Ticketek.
